Article September 18, 1915 Issue

Search-lights

IDA HUME

One night, while on the pier at a favorite resort on the coast, we were greatly struck by the power and beauty, and especially the whiteness, of the search-lights. They were many miles distant, but they lighted the sea and coast-line for a very considerable distance. The air was unusually clear, and the flashing golden colored light from a distant lighthouse also seemed doubly bright and distinct.

All this brought to me a great sense of life and activity. Later on, when quietly sitting in my room, overlooking a wide expanse of sea and the beautiful coast-line, so distinct on such a clear, lovely evening, my thoughts recurred to a conversation I had that night with some friends. It referred to the present seemingly sad conditions through which we were passing in the storm and stress of war. My friends were not interested in Christian Science, and I felt I had been off my guard, had neglected to "stand porter at the door of thought," as we are bidden on page 392 of our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and from those search-lights I learned a lesson which may perhaps help some one else.

I was reminded of how constantly, perseveringly, and persistently we should apply the search-light of Truth to help us see distinctly into our own thought, to aid us in that selfexamination which we daily need to make, especially now, when we are facing conditions which have come to very few of us before. When thoughts of anxiety, resentment, unkind judgment, and condemnation try to make themselves felt, are we in earnest as we say, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;" or do we often enough recall our Master's words, "I judge no man," and his command to "judge righteous judgment"? I felt that I had been guilty of much wrong thought, and was so thankful for those great lights, waving round and round the coast and sea, and showing up all dark corners or objects there. They had been the means of bringing to my thought the better work to be done, and the need for a more scientific watch on the coast-line of my consciousness, that the enemy might not find a foothold and come in like a flood to overwhelm me.

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