We all have crossroads experiences in which we feel a need for guidance. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Paul, all had such experiences, and each found his answer through dependence on God.

Christ Jesus faced a crossroads when Satan offered him alternative courses, but he already knew the only true way. "I am the way, the truth, and the life," ^{John 14:6;} he later told a questioning disciple. We find this way in the consciousness of man's oneness with God as His son. To the degree that one understands his real identity as the spiritual reflection of unerring Mind, he ceases to be subject to confusion and mistakes, and instead is divinely guided. But when one's thought is governed by the false, material sense of things and one finds he must make a decision or solve a problem, he is beset by misgivings and anxiety.

Divine intelligence—not a mortal viewpoint—is the basis for making valid human judgments. It is the primal attribute of the Mind that is God, which is altogether good, incapable of knowing matter and evil. God is Spirit, infinite Being, and His creation can include nothing outside this infinity of good. Therefore, when confronted by uncertainty, we need to affirm and realize these truths and then quietly listen for divine direction. Isaiah wrote, "Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." ^{Isa. 30:21;}

How do we hear God's guidance? Through spiritual sense and the understanding of God as infinite Mind and of man as God's expression, eternally conscious of His perfect ideas. "Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God," ^{Science and Health, p. 209;} Mrs. Eddy tells us in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health.

To realize that God is the one omnipotent Mind, divine Love, and that this infinite divine consciousness is reflected in individual spiritual consciousness, man, brings to light our God-given strength and fearlessness, wisdom and intelligence. We do not merely have access to these divine qualities; they are ours by inheritance, already present in spiritual consciousness.

I was in Rocky Mountain National Park, hiking with a group to a pair of lakes on a mountain shelf, in connection with some research I was doing. The ascent had presented difficulties for previous parties. There were no handholds on certain parts of the smooth rock face, I was told, and we were not using climbing equipment. So it was vital to choose the right path the whole way. Our guide had never been over the terrain and said we might not be able to reach our destination.

The evening before the trip, I felt apprehensive and physically distressed. So I prayed, replacing the picture of mortals climbing on matter with a realization of true, spiritual being—of man living and moving in God and safely governed by Him. Then I turned to this passage in Science and Health: "The understanding, even in a degree, of the divine All-power destroys fear, and plants the feet in the true path,—the path which leads to the house built without hands 'eternal in the heavens.' " ^{ibid., p. 454.} What an uplift! What relief I felt!

When our group assembled the next morning, a hikemaster who had climbed the mountain before was there to lead us. He was completely at ease about our prospects. Also, the uncertain weather had cleared.

The climb proved spectacular, and we made the destination and the return without difficulty. The hikemaster said it was not until 11 o'clock the night before that he had been told he would lead the trip. That was after I had gained my peace by realizing God's perfect control of His man.

I have experienced God's guidance in other ways (and so have you, I'm sure). For example, in finding a life partner, in locating a house, in making occupational decisions, in carrying out creative endeavors, in finding ways to clear up differences with others or ways to help them.

God does not reach into the illusory material universe and grasp mortals by the hand; yet He does lead us. Divine Truth impels human consciousness to let go of the false concepts of a material world and material circumstances, and yield to the infinite divine consciousness. There we know only Truth, not error; Principle, not uncertainty; Spirit, not matter; divine Love, not fear; immortal Mind, not mortal mind. There we feel neither limited nor inadequate but infinite and secure.

In the universe of Spirit—the only universe there is—God's control of His spiritual offspring is absolute and entire. Infinity includes the infinitesimal, and there is nothing that God does not control. Principle provides perfectly for man's every need before it arises. The understanding of these truths destroys the material misconceptions of the human mind, eliminating fear and doubt. It prevents present missteps and corrects past ones. This is the healing action of the Christ, demonstrating divine Truth's supremacy on the human scene. And God's guidance always comes in a way that we can recognize.

In every situation the right path is the one Spiritward, which in turn reveals the right human path. When our consciousness is governed by divine Truth, we can expect our daily activities also to be governed by Truth and therefore to be successful—yes, wonderful!