Article February 6, 1995 Issue

Whether the sea is calm or rough—watch!

Thomas O. Poyser

Experienced seaman are familiar with the adage "Don't call in the watch when the sea is calm." An obvious corollary to this wisdom is "Don't call in the watch when the sea is rough!" At such times special alertness is called for in order to guide the ship through the storm safely. This is equally important for students of Christian Science when confronted by stormy, challenging times and circumstances.

At all times, then, we need to take up careful watching. Watching for what? To prevent any acceptance into our thought of the belief of a life or mind apart from God. Since God is infinite, any suggestion of another power or intelligence must be erroneous. Can we really ever watch our thought too assiduously in striving to nullify error's claim to be a real presence and power? We can prevent this false suggestion from gaining access through the door of our own consciousness, and refuse to accept its claim to a place in the consciousness of others.

Christ Jesus' parable of the tares and wheat points to the importance of eliminating tares in our own field, or consciousness. And when confronted with the errors of others, we learn, too, from the Master's counsel "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. 7:1). He even admonished a crowd intent upon punishing a woman caught in adultery: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7).

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