Love Is Ever Present

MAY C. CRANE

The Master's supporting of Peter when the latter attempted to walk on the water was a striking illustration of the ever-presence of divine Love. We are told that the disciples who were in a boat beheld Jesus walking to them on the water. They were afraid, but the Master's thoughts were illumined by the consciousness of God's presence. Peter evidently glimpsed something of this glorious truth, for he said, "If it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." With what joy Jesus must have uttered that one word, "Come," for he was ever desirous of sharing with others his knowledge of the heavenly Father.

Full of confidence, Peter left the boat and stepped forth to walk on the waves. But when he looked at the waves and "saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Jesus immediately stretched forth his hand and caught him. Love had been present with Peter all the time. Not only was Love present, but the Master proved this to be true at the very time Peter was sinking, for he himself remained standing on the water. When Peter looked away from mortal thinking, that is, looked in the right direction for help, he found a helping hand ready to lift him above the fears that were engulfing him, so that he could prove the birthright of dominion bestowed upon man, as stated in the first chapter of Genesis.

How like this experience of Peter is the experience of many of us today! Gleaning a little of the eternal truth, we feel certain that we too can walk over the waves of error, can immediately solve the many problems that loom large before our vision. Nevertheless, after going forward courageously for a short time we make the same mistake that Peter did, and look down at the waves of mortal mind.

Jesus reflected divine Love more than any other person ever has done, and as he walked on the water he demonstrated the power of Love to surmount all fears and doubts—products of mortal mind. With the greatest patience and tenderness Jesus admonished his disciples and others not to be afraid. And Mrs. Eddy, under the subheading, "Mental Treatment Illustrated," tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 410), "Christian scientific practice begins with Christ's keynote of harmony, 'Be not afraid!'" Farther on in the chapter she says (p. 411), "Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear of patients." Both the Master and our Leader understood that fear is the root of much mortal discord.

If we are in the midst of a problem and have come to think of it as real, the experience of Peter may be a helpful lesson to us, if we remember these words on page 454 of the textbook: "Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the alter of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the water of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept." Instead of looking at the boisterous wind and the waves, we should turn to the Bible and our Leader's works, and know that the truth contained in these inspired writings will be revealed to us in all its glory, and we shall find that Love is ever present to uphold and to save us.

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