Article August 24, 1918 Issue

"The everlasting arms"

HUGH STUART CAMPBELL

A child who with her parents spends part of each summer at an inland lake, was unable to swim. Three seasons had passed, and all efforts to teach her in the usual way had proved unavailing. A seeming fear, out of all proportion to her longing for the water, hindered instruction. One morning the situation was considered metaphysically, and the truth as taught in Christian Science was applied to the problem. The child was told that she, being a spiritual idea of God, was the object of His loving care and lived constantly under divine guidance and protection; that God directed, supported, and sustaned her wherever placed, whether in, over, or under the water; that Mind governs all action; that there is no fear. Partly convinced, the child said, "I'll try to swim, but you stay near." There was still a dependence on human aid. The effort was made, and with some difficulty the pier over deep water was reached.

The little girl was then told to rely solely on Truth's sustaining power, and not to depend upon any human sense of protection; that a child of God could not be harmed. The child pondered a moment and then exclaimed, "Now I'll swim back; but you keep away." Human dependence was gone, and the demonstration complete. Physical aid, which a moment before seemed indispensable, was rejected; confidence in God was assured. She proved that "underneath are the everlasting arms," and afterward she swam with contentment and joy many times over the deep places she formerly dreaded.

Now what had changed? The physical child, the water, the pier were the same. The law of specific gravity had not changed. There had been no instruction to improve the method of breathing or movement. What had produced the result so quickly? Simply this: the realization of Love's presence and protection had cast out fear. The erroneous mental state which governs the physical had been corrected with truth. False beliefs about law were rendered obsolete. Fear gave way to the right idea of safety. Confidence in God's omnipotence banished from the child's consciousness unreal beliefs acquired by false education and suggestion, and she demonstrated the power of Mind over matter, thus proving once and for all time man's dominion over the physical senses. Vacation is over; and now, as she repeats Mrs. Eddy's verse, her "New Year Gift to the Little Children" (Poems, p. 69),—

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