Back in the ’70s, at a youth event on a farm, I joined my friend on the back of her horse. Sitting behind the saddle was painful, for my tailbone collided with the horse’s spine at every stride of his trot. I asked to be let down, but my friend did not want to stop. As a result, my tailbone was injured. I reasoned that over time it would sort itself out. But forty years later, I was still accommodating this injury. There were certain exercises and exercise classes that were impossible for me. 

In the meantime, I had taken Christian Science class instruction, taught in a Christian Science Sunday School, and raised two children. All these things contributed to my spiritual growth. Then one day I got an inspiration about the incident on the farm.

I was visiting my old home state and ran into the friend I’d been riding with. We had a long, cozy visit. I found that I harbored no resentment toward her regarding the horse incident and that she clearly didn’t remember anything about it. In fact, there was a strong mutual compassion and affection between us. I realized that neither she nor her horse had ever had any power over me. It was like Christ Jesus’ interview with Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Jesus knew that Pilate could have no power over him unless it had been bestowed by God (see John 19:1–11). Jesus understood God’s omnipotence in a very practical way. As a result, he could face Pilate without fear, knowing that God controlled both cause and effect. Jesus knew that he was never outside the divine presence, regardless of how threatening the situation might look.