Article July 1, 1922 Issue

Riding the Waves

LUCY HAYS REYNOLDS

In the course of a conversation with a fellow-student, a Christian Scientist was asked if she had ever been surf bathing. "Do you remember," questioned the friend, "the fun of facing the waves; how, the higher they mounted and the louder they roared, the greater was the fun?" The aspect of the student's thought suddenly changed. The look of anxiety, which had told of her longing for peace, passed away; and a calm strength came to her rescue. Why should she not joyously ride the waves of error until at the command of Truth they were stilled? In the midst of the storm, could she not find the Christ and hear his voice as clearly as in the quiet of the peaceful hour? In times of stress could she not as earnestly reach out for the Father's hand as in periods of calm?

The loving, sensitive nature yearns for the quiet waters, and the true Christian instinctively turns from conflict; and, yet, since the Christ-idea is at variance with the least erring thought, it becomes true that the greater the Christlikeness attained, the greater the opportunity presented for victorious warfare, until all of error shall have been vanquished. Indeed, the coming of the Christ-idea always arouses a tumult on earth; and holy battles are fought, even while this idea is bringing its own sublime peace to the world. Conflict is inevitable, while there are beliefs opposed to good. So long as there are encroachments upon right ideals, he who stands for divine Principle cannot expect to be at peace with the world. His peace is spiritual; it comes as a result of his loyalty to the right. Then, though the whirlwinds sweep the seas of human experience, he remains calm and undisturbed.

It is well to look this fact of conflict squarely in the face, that we may gain the right attitude with which to meet the upheavals of the day, and successfully wrestle with the error that confronts us. Upon one's posture in breasting the waves, one's dominion over them largely depends. Lives become embittered and hardened, or else Christlike and heroic, not because of adversity and conflict, but because of one's mental attitude respecting them. It is not the burdens themselves, but a false sense of them, which makes them hard to bear. A right position with respect to any phase of error gives spiritual poise; while a wrong one may result in our being tossed about at the mercy of wind and wave.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Riding the Waves

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access