Article November 25, 1950 Issue

THE GOLDEN RULE IN MOTORING

JOHN R. PETERSON

After making a call on a patient one afternoon a Christian Science practitioner found it necessary to back his car through a narrow space in order to re-enter the main thoroughfare. His way was partially blocked by a workman engaged in his duties beside a large truck. The practitioner's heart was brimming with love and gratitude for the healing he had just witnessed, and as he gently tapped his horn, the workman smiled, signaled directions to him, and walked out into the road to make sure that no other car was coming.

The practitioner waved his thanks and drove away reflecting on the pleasure which the workman's little act of courtesy had given him. He realized that the incident, small as it was, had borne witness to the ever-readiness of mankind to respond to love, and the thought came to him that it would be an interesting experience to attempt to drive his car in such a way as to show forth love, to bless all whom he met. As he began considering this possibility, he realized with a start that it would make quite a change in his driving. He had always thought of himself as a careful and courteous driver, but upon watching his impulses as he threaded his way through the city traffic, he found that his usual driving did not conform to his highest sense of activity as expressing Love, divine Principle.

Now if anything is worth doing at all, it is worth doing lovingly. Driving a car brings one into contact with many phases of human thought, and it is important for us not to allow ourselves to express hurry, rudeness, or even a passive lack of courtesy. As Christian Scientists, we have a duty to do all things in accordance with the Golden Rule, to express toward others that which we would like them to show forth to us. We learn in Science that matter is not an extrinsic reality, but merely the objectification of mortal thought. Our experiences are the result of our thinking or of our accepting the thinking of others. How important it is, then, that in our driving we express and expect to see others express love, kindliness, and consideration. These qualities of thought must be recognized as inherent in man if we would prove that our activities are under God's law of perfect harmony, in which there can be no accidents.

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