A friend once asked another, "How do you succeed so well in never steadying another's ark?" What was meant was of course, her friend's scrupulous avoidance of intrusiveness into the affairs of others. The figure of speech comes from the Bible incident related in the first book of Chronicles (13:9), where Uzza was stricken down for attempting to steady the ark of the Lord.

The other replied in terms of fishing: "I simply watch my own line and hook. If I am tending another's, our lines are apt to become fouled, and that brings trouble to both of us."

The basis of this practical attitude was her recognition of the fact that the one Mind, the all-intelligent God, cares for all in ways far wiser and higher than any human direction can outline or provide. When Christ Jesus rebuked Peter, who was unduly concerned about John's problem, with "What is that to thee? follow thou me" (John 21:22), he did not imply that Peter should follow self-interest or be indifferent to another's welfare, but rather that he should humbly acknowledge the leading of the Christ, Truth, in his own life and allow John the same privilege. Thus Peter was shown that the only responsibility a human being has is individual obedience to God, which results in his being a law unto himself.

What is one busy about when being a law unto himself? He is knowing the truth of being for himself and all mankind. He is listening for God's direction in all things, as did the Psalmist who said (Ps. 16:7), "I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel." Then he is not swayed by human will, anxiety, or self-importance to give advice in others' affairs, of which he may know much or little. He knows that no two individuals tread the same mental path, and each one may and should receive his own guidance direct from God, unadulterated by human opinions.

When the writer first took up the study of Christian Science, she was greatly troubled by the absence of personal missionaries, for she had been reared in a Protestant church which stressed their importance. To the first advanced student of Christian Science with whom she became acquainted she propounded the question, "How is the world to be evangelized without missionaries to foreign countries?" The answer was short and to the point: "By getting yourself right." She could then see that the primal mission of religion is to regenerate the individual. Jesus offered the same plan for universal salvation in his words (John 12:12), "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw-all men unto me"—the Christ.

The appearing of the Christ in individual human consciousness is inevitable. The loved New England preacher, Phillips Brooks, well portrayed the coming of the true guide and director of men—the Christ— in his poem which is widely sung as a hymn (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 222),

As students of Christian Science, the religion of divine Love, we are privileged to follow the direction of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in regard to those who are honestly seeking Truth (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 570): "Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences." When the personal problems of others are placed before us, great wisdom is needed that we be not deluded by a false sense of personal responsibility into offering human advice, rather than the "cup" of spiritual Truth. Thus would the human mind obstruct the natural unfoldment of good which comes to each individual who turns to God in prayerful sincerity.

A student of Christian Science was concerned about the actions of a valued friend who she felt was placing herself and the Cause she ably represented in a wrong light. The student became obsessed with a false sense of responsibility to steady the other's ark and prevent what she regarded as a grave mistake. But when with unselfed thought she reached out to divine Mind for guidance, she was led as directly as if a hand had opened the book to a By-Law in the Church Manual in which our Leader says (Art. XXVI, Sect. 3), "Teachers shall instruct their pupils how to defend themselves against mental malpractice, never to return evil for evil, but to know the truth that makes free, and thus to be a law, not unto others, but to themselves." As she pondered the import of this intelligent command, her thought was brought into obedience to the law of ever-operative good, and she realized that her only obligation was to know the truth that makes free. Anxiety and false responsibility fled, and the friend was lovingly left to Mind's guidance and control. The result was that nothing more was said or done in an erroneous direction by the wayward one and harmony once more appeared.

In minding one's own business by acknowledging one Mind only and seeing only the man of God's creating, one is upholding the law of good alone both for himself and for his brother. He realizes that the function of caring for and directing God's entire universe belongs to this Mind, which never errs, but directs each idea aright. Thus one follows our Leader's injunction of realizing that all of God's children are securely held in the consciousness of universal Love. Mortal mind alone errs and is anxious in self-appointed responsibility.

Mrs. Eddy gives a heartening promise to every true follower of the Christ, Truth (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 347): "God is responsible for the mission of those whom He has anointed. Those who know no will but His take His hand, and from the night He leads to light. None can say unto Him, What doest Thou?" This shows us where true responsibility rests and gives the assurance that each is safe under Love's unerring guidance.