Article June 11, 1932 Issue

Quietness

ELSE W. SWINSON

Isaiah, the prophet, says, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." A dictionary defines "quietness" as "freedom from disturbance, noise, or alarm." This quietness comes to us when we lift our thoughts to God in prayer. It denotes calmness, peacefulness, assurance, security, and strength.

Many times we are called upon to be quiet, and "unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 424). A business problem may seem burdensome, many demands may be made upon the busy housewife, a human plan frustrated, a church meeting troublesome, a physical condition slow in yielding, the seeming separation from a dear one distressing. Whatever may be the disturbing circumstance, the remedy is at hand in quiet and complete reliance on "God's unerring direction." As our thought becomes spiritualized, we shut out the testimony of the material senses, and find a clear, open path in which to go forward unfettered and undisturbed.

The reward of quiet contemplation of God's protecting power came to the writer a few years ago when she, with another woman and two children, was waiting one evening to cross one of the busiest throughfares in a large city, before traffic signals were installed. There were four street car tracks and automobiles were going rapidly back and forth. While the four waited to cross the street, the women lifted their thoughts to God. Suddenly, while they were quietly standing, all noise ceased. There were no street cars, no automobiles in movement—a path had been opened for the party to cross the wide street. Four abreast, and in quiet joy and gratitude, they crossed over. It was like a triumphal march! They had walked with God.

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