Article August 2, 1919 Issue

A Lesson from the Sea

EDMUND K. GOLDSBOROUGH

One morning last summer while swimming in the sea, a simple but nevertheless forcible lesson was brought home to me in the following manner. Although I had apparently how to swim for almost a score of years, I had apparently been unable to float. While keenly desirous of adding this feat, if it may be so called, to other aquatic accomplishments, I had virtually convinced myself that it was an impossibility, at least so far as I, personally, was concerned. On this day in question, however, I determined to make a fresh attempt. I then decided to yield my own will to the divine, making no personal effort whatsoever to sustain self. Completely submissive I sank back, when to my surprise and delight, I found that far from being submerged, I was being safely borne on the bosom of the sea, almost as if I had been a chip of wood. The realization then dawned that there was no possible danger of my being immersed, unless a sense of fear or will power was brought to bear. I also perceived with perfect clarity that my utter inability to float during past summers was occasioned by a mistaken belief, and that my limitation in this direction had been entirely self-imposed and altogether unnecessary. In previous attempts I had invariable gone under the surface, suffering needless discomfort, merely because of unconscious self-will, coupled perhaps with the personal desire to be master.

While thus reclining, gazing at the beautiful blue immensity overhead, the thought presented itself: How sadly true it is that in our journey Spiritward, we sometimes, perhaps through lack of faith or understanding, virtually contend that divine Love is not sufficiently potent to protect us from the seeming blasts of sense, which may assume the grim guise of disease or death, when the fact is that no matter in what situation we may find ourselves, Truth will safely sustain, if we but sacrifice our material desires, yielding to the infinite will of wisdom. Unfortunately mortals oftentimes attempt to utilize the false sense of animal will in the vain endeavor to stem the foaming tides of evil belief, only to be apparently engulfed. Hence, it is only too evident that no demonstration need be protracted. Indeed, instantaneous healing must inevitably result when the patient becomes completely submissive to the unerring will of the infinite Father. Sooner or later divine Love must "bind the stubborn will" (Poems, p. 14) of each and every one, and when this is accomplished men not only will be delivered from every suggestion of error that lurks in the dark byways of materiality, but will be gently led into a conscious realization of blissful, harmonious being, "where," as Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 227), "fetters fall and the rights of man are fully known and acknowledged."

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