Article October 27, 1945 Issue

Changing the Notion of Chance

W. GORDON GRAHAM

An infantry patrol picking its way through enemy country came to a point where there was a choice of several routes to its objective. The patrol commander paused to consider. Like so many things, both on the field of battle and in human life generally, the choice of the route seemed to be purely a matter of chance. In a military operation it is assumed that judgment and planning can ensure success only up to a certain point. Beyond that point the success of the operation is considered uncertain.

The patrol commander might thus have assumed it to be immaterial which course he took. As a Christian Scientist, however, he knew that man is not at the mercy of circumstance, but that in his true and constant status as the much-loved child of God, he is protected and guided by his Father. In studying the Christian Science textbook. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, that morning, he had read the following passage on page 424: "Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, and we must leave the mortal basis of belief 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."

At the moment of choice, the part of this sentence beginning "we must leave," recurred to his thought, and he turned consciously and humbly to God for guidance, realizing that man as His reflection has ever available the wisdom of the one Mind. The object of the patrol was thereafter accomplished successfully. Later, when the battle was over, the enemy positions were examined, and it was found that there was no other route the patrol could have used without suffering severe casualties. The patrol commander was deeply grateful for this instance of God's protection.

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