Article January 19, 1918 Issue

Principle the True Guide

ESTELLE T. M. CRANE

An article which appeared in the Sentinel some time ago, on the overcoming of fear in operating an automobile, appealed especially to two students of Christian Science. It awakened them to a higher recognition of man's freedom and dominion in the truth, and when the time came for them to have a machine of their own they were able to take a couple of lessons in driving it and to start on a long trip homeward without any sense of fear. Desiring to be guided by Principle in this new experience, and realizing that in order to do so they must be steadfastly conscious that Mind, infinite intelligence, created man in His own image and likeness, and that man reflects and is directed by this one intelligence, they knew that their every thought must be one of good. It was seen that any discordant happening could only result from error of thought, from neglecting to watch that their thoughts should express the ever active intelligence of divine Principle, Love.

The one difficulty encountered on that trip, like each one experienced since then, in the thousands of miles covered in traveling through fifteen different states, was the result of following human will instead of divine Mind. Though almost nothing was known of mechanics, this first problem was solved when the sense of impatience accompanying it was replaced by a sudden realization of Love's tenderness, as, after the opening words of our Leader's hymn, "Shepherd, show me how to go," the words of the twenty-third psalm flashed into the thought of one of these students, and the intelligence required was immediately manifested through the right action of the other one.

On a later trip, during a flood season in the South, this same failure to listen to divine guidance brought a severe lesson, for the car, including business satchels and money, as well as personal luggage, had to be abandoned in the middle of a rising river. After the first thoughts of fear and reproach had been quieted and the sense of Love's omnipotence was again bringing a comforting message, the work which meant the overcoming of all the obstacles connected with this apparently serious problem was begun. Through knowing, as taught in Christian Science, that God's ideas cannot lose anything which rightfully belongs to them, for they are held safely in His eternal possession as the manifestation of Mind, and since the car and its contents had a place in this manifestation, being seemingly necessary to the convenience of these travelers, the fear of loss was overcome and a feeling of peace took its place.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Principle the True Guide

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access