A DEBATE RECENTLY ERUPTED on the importance of monitoring volcanoes in the United States. Political maneuvering, not geological discovery, sparked the dispute. One side proposed that $15 million be allocated for the volcano monitoring. The other side knocked the proposal as wasteful.

Honest individuals can disagree over such research investments. But there's little disagreement—at least among experts—that, when it comes to volcanoes, big things lie ahead. The questions are, how big is "big"? And, how far ahead is "ahead"?

Consider Yellowstone National Park. An almost unprecedented number of seismic tremors have been recorded there in recent months. Does this signal a near-term eruption? Maybe. Then again, maybe not. It's been 640,000 years since Yellowstone's last major eruption. That one blew a hole the size of Connecticut in Earth's crust. Experts feel the next major eruption is now overdue (see The Week, March 27, 2009, page 13).

So, yes, monitoring volcanoes in ways that might give an early warning could be a plus, potentially saving countless lives. But would the success of an early warning system hinge entirely on funding? Would its success depend strictly on technological breakthrough? No. And no again.

Here, a spiritual environment of thought figures in—and has the potential to forward problem-solving innovation. And individuals unversed in technology and unschooled in government funding could play a positive role. How? By changing the surrounding tone. By becoming more attuned to the presence of the one divine Mind called God. An atmosphere of thought boiling over with partisan bickering is less likely to foster solutions than one imbued with divine inspiration. Finding solutions is not exclusively a matter of technological expertise, not entirely a matter of funding. Expertise tends to grow, and sound financial decisions tend to appear more readily, within the context of a spiritual environment.

The Psalmist hinted at that environment of thought. He described a tumultuous scene, not unlike a volcanic eruption. But he saw no reason for fear, even "though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; ... though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." How to be fearless in the face of such upheaval? The Psalmist recorded the Divine as saying, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:2, 3, 10).

When we know that the one "I am" is God, the Mind of the universe, what was a contentious or frantic mental environment grows calmer. Spiritual stillness settles in. Everyone benefits, not just those in prayer. Solutions surface. Even the biggest problems turn out to be not as big as the Almighty. Even the uncertain threats that may lie just ahead are not as close as the God of love who is even closer. To be aware of His nature and His presence is to contribute to a less fear-filled atmosphere of thought. It's as fear is stilled that answers come into view.

Jesus illustrated that even giant events of nature are not immune to divine consciousness. When faced with a violent storm at sea, he drew on the same God the Psalmist knew, and insisted on the same spiritual condition to which the Psalmist referred: divine stillness. With it, Jesus stilled that storm. His example stands as an invaluable marker to anyone charting a course to prayer-based problem solving, including the problem of how to monitor more effectively giant threats without stiring up fears.

For most of us, of course, the volcanoes we're likely to face are metaphoric. Maybe siblings battle with rivalry. Or perhaps we ourselves feel anger seething within over a job lost or an opportunity missed. What then?

Christian Science, which was discovered by Mary Baker Eddy and is firmly grounded on the teachings of the Bible, uses the term "mortal mind" in much the same way that the Bible uses the phrase "carnal mind." That is, mortal mind refers to a supposititious mentality committed to a Godless view of life, and therefore committed to random danger for way too much of humanity. But mortal mentality is ultimately destined to give way to the storm-stilling, volcano-quieting presence of the one divine Mind of all. Mrs. Eddy had this to say: "The pent-up elements of mortal mind need no terrible detonation to free them. Envy, rivalry, hate need no temporary indulgence that they be destroyed through suffering; they should be stifled from lack of air and freedom" (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 356). Yielding to the all-presence of Mind, we find that rivalry or other pent-up elements get snuffed out.

Whether one faces a metaphorical eruption about to occur in the home, or a literal one whose timing seems uncertain, thought that yields to the quiet clarity of the Divine will be a plus. Emotional calm can be reclaimed. Potentially violent, giant acts of nature can be foreseen in time. The stillness of the Divine can, yet again, restore peace. |css