Much publicity is given to the prevalence of accidents, and we are all constantly cautioned to exercise the utmost care to prevent them. The endeavor of everyone should be to obey rules and regulations that have been adopted by constituted authority for the common good. But it is obvious that human regulations, precautions, and safety devices alone are not enough. We must recognize that for true safety one's thinking, and consequently one's affairs and actions, must be controlled by a higher authority, namely the law of God.

How reassuring is the Bible declaration (Ex. 23:20), "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared."

Occasionally one hears it said that misfortunes are attributable to God. This, however, could not possibly be true, because calamities are contrary to God's nature. God is good, and He bestows on His creation only goodness. God does not make use of or permit evil of any kind, at any time, for any purpose. In the Bible we read of God (Hab. 1:13), "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." Christian Science not only explains these helpful statements concerning God, but shows how they can be proved in terms of individual experience.

Let us consider some thought-provoking questions in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. On page 394 she asks, "Will you bid a man let evils overcome him, assuring him that all misfortunes are from God, against whom mortals should not contend?" And she continues farther on: "Are material means the only refuge from fatal chances? Is there no divine permission to conquer discord of every kind with harmony, with Truth and Love?" There surely is such permission, and one who understands the truth of man's being as the spiritual child of God can go about his daily activities with a sense of security, doing that which is normal and right without fear of accidents.

Most of us travel about from place to place. An understanding of God's unfailing law of divine direction and providence is of inestimable value in demonstrating our safety under all circumstances. Since accidents are due to wrong action of some kind, a consideration of what is termed "action" is pertinent. God is all-acting; therefore action is controlled by God through divine law and must always express harmony. Right action is the evidence of omnipotent, omnipresent intelligence. It is the manifestation of Mind, which creates, includes, and governs all. Therefore it follows that under divine law there is no basis for wrong action. The law of God, the only real law, is irresistible, irreversible, and productive of good only. In reality there is not nor can there be a contrary law of evil which is manifested in wrong action.

Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 187): "There is no involuntary action. The divine Mind includes all action and volition, and man in Science is governed by this Mind." Therefore man under the government and volition of divine Mind is immune to accidents. Action in obedience to divine law precludes the possibility of mishaps.

Conviction and application of this truth annul the general belief of so-called natural laws expressed as involuntary action. Specifically we can know that we are not subject to the influence of neglect, carelessness, selfishness, willfulness, or lawlessness, and therefore we cannot be involved in any phase of accident. Thus shall we experience the results of intelligent decision and right direction.

An individual's dominion over evil can be proved in proportion to his understanding of man's nature as God's idea. God being the one divine Mind, or Principle, of existence, and the real man being His spiritual image and likeness, as the Bible declares, it follows that man must be and is as incapable of being harmed or injured as is his Father-Mother God. Man is, therefore, never in danger. In recognizing the real man to be a spiritual idea, existent in divine Mind, and not a corporeal person, occupying three-dimensional space, we are conscious of the divine presence and power, which overcome fear and the possibility of confusion. Because God knows no fear, man, His reflection, is unafraid.

A few hours after the husband of a Christian Scientist had driven a group of boy scouts, including their two sons, to an Army base, the Scientist was startled by the suggestion that someone would come and tell her that her husband and sons had been killed in an airplane accident. At first she went on with her housework and paid no attention to this, as she thought, silly suggestion. However, since it persisted, she stopped what she was doing and replaced the evil thought with the positive realization of the allness and goodness of God, of His omnipresence and ever-available care and protection for His children. After silencing the suggestion, she went about her work again without any fear.

Later when her family returned she learned of the wonderful protection which they had experienced. They had been invited to take a ride in an Army transport plane, and while they were aloft the pilot, to illustrate his statement that the plane could fly with but one engine, feathered the propeller and cut out one of the engines. This caused the engine to fail, and the pilot expected it to burst into flames. Also he anticipated trouble in landing the craft. Without telling his passengers, he radioed the base, telling of his predicament. The engine did not burst into flames, and the pilot succeeded in landing with a jolt, but without any further mishap. No one was harmed, and the fire equipment and ambulance, which had been called, were not needed.

An important point in Christian Science is illustrated in this experience, namely that we do not ignore evil suggestions when presented, but we know their nothingness and impotence in the light of the reality and omnipotence of everlasting divine Love.

In Science and Health we read (p. 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. Under divine Providence there can be no accidents, since there is no room for imperfection in perfection."

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.—Psalm 37:23, 24.