Article August 20, 1932 Issue

Commanding Wind and Wave

LUCY HAYS REYNOLDS

Many years ago there arose a great storm out at sea which struck terror to the hearts of all but one who were in a little ship into which the waves were beating. Helpless before the raging elements of error, those on board cried out to be delivered, exclaiming, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" Christ Jesus arose and rebuked—not the frightened disciples—but "the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still." Then, turning compassionately to his followers, he asked them why it was they were fearful and had no faith. Undoubtedly, he expected them to command the elements. But in blind amazement they exclaimed to each other, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" How had it all happened? Was it a miracle? Had the laws of nature been set aside? Was it the result of a power belonging only to the Man of Galilee? No. With scientific naturalness the Master applied the law of spiritual might to command and calm the threatening elements of mortal mentality expressed in merciless wind and wave.

The phenomena of what are termed laws of nature, it is learned through Christian Science, are the outcome of so-called mental, not material, forces. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 484), we read: "What are termed natural science and material laws are the objective states of mortal mind. The physical universe expresses the conscious and unconscious thoughts of mortals." The earth and planets, then, are but the objectified expressions of mortal mentality; and the elements, when stormy and destructive, may well denote the passions and forces of human nature. Certainly, tempestuous wind and wave, tornado and cyclone, are but the phenomena of animal and magnetic beliefs. Lightning, floods, and consuming fire express the surging elements of mortal mind uncontrolled. The same mortal mentality which works through the conscious and unconscious thoughts of mortals, propelling licentiousness, disease and pestilence, drunkenness and war, also propels destructive wind and storm. Did not the earthquake following the crucifixion of Jesus express the animal instinct that would have destroyed, if possible, the spiritual idea? When his disciples reported that they had cast out devils through the Christ-spirit, the Master exclaimed that he saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven.

Not primarily from the outward tempest, but from the raging sea of elementary error did the Saviour rescue his disciples. It was the headlong propulsions of mortal thought, apparently whistling and shrieking through consciousness, which the Master primarily rebuked. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 106) we read, "Human mentality, expressed in disease, sin, and death, in tempest and in flood, the divine Mind calms and limits with a word."

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