Article February 16, 1918 Issue

Drifting

CLARENCE W. CHADWICK

Three East Indians had fallen asleep in an empty harbor boat, and during the night hours their frail craft had broken away from its moorings and was slowly drifting out to sea. For nearly three days they were without food or drink, or anything with which to propel their skiff. The outlook was not propitious, and each hour found them farther from their starting point. What they were thinking may readily be surmised by those who have passed through similar experiences. One the morning of the third day they saw approaching them what proved to be a large ocean liner whose watchful officers had already detected the drifting craft and were deflecting the course of the steamer to render any needful assistance. In a very short time the three men were taken aboard and cared for in true sailor style, while their empty craft was left to the mercy of the sea. A day later they were safely landed at the first port of call only a few hundred miles from their home.

The position in which these men found themselves is but typical of that of every mortal before Truth, as revealed through Christian Science, comes to his rescue and ministers to his physical and mental needs. Whether he realizes it or not he has fallen asleep in the belief of life, substance, and intelligence in matter, and is slowly drifting farther and farther away from his true home. He is sound asleep in the senses, seeing what he believes and believing what he sees, oblivious of the danger he is in. The waves of error beat heavily against his rudderless craft, but he sleeps on until through hunger and starvation, when he feels that God has forsaken him, he cries out in earnest for "the bread of life." Then it is, through trials and tribulations, that he begins to awaken from earth's fearsome dream to find out that God never forsook him, but is ever ready to welcome each sheep that strays from the fold. What a beautiful proof of this do we find portrayed in the parable of the prodigal son! Every mortal born into the dream of sense, whether the child of king or peasant, has strayed far from man's real home, has drifted far out upon the boisterous sea of human belief, only to be rescued at last by the all-loving Father who is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance," and awaken to spiritual understanding.

Christian Science is welcoming the return of the wanderer,—and how? By healing sickness and sin, "uplifting the human understanding, buried in a false sense of being" (No and Yes, p. 37). What sort of welcome would have been extended to the prodigal son had the father withheld the healing balm of Truth and Love? This, however, he did not do, but put upon him "the best robe," typifying the garment of righteousness, or purity of thinking. This garment brings moral and physical healing to all who suffer it to be "put on." This is the garment that Christian Science is supplying to all who consent to wear it. Some, like the elder brother, may allow jealousy and other selfish qualities to control them, and so render themselves unworthy of God's bounty, but sooner or later even these will hear the loving pleading of the Father, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." Where love and compassion are, there the Christ-idea is being allowed to enter and influence individual consciousness. Where self-righteousness, bigotry, and unmercifulness reign there Christ, Truth, is debarred entrance.

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