Aiden loved sailing. He loved the sun on his face and the sound of the sailboat splashing through the water. He had been sailing ever since his dad had first taken him out on a sailboat in the bay. But after being in a bike accident, Aiden wasn’t able to go sailing. He hurt, and he was angry.

Aiden attended Christian Science Sunday School and had learned that God loved him. But he didn’t feel very loved at the moment. Aiden told his dad how much he missed sailing. 

Dad listened to Aiden’s disappointment and frustration. Then he asked, “What has to happen before we sail?” 

“Well,” said Aiden, “we have to rig the sail.” 

When you rig the sail, it means you set it up or prepare it before you go out on the water. 

Aiden’s dad asked another question: “How do we ‘rig our sails’ spiritually to begin an adventure?” 

Aiden knew his dad was asking, “How do we prepare our thinking?” He also knew from going to Sunday School that when we prepare our thinking, we can hear God’s messages better. And God’s messages, like the wind hitting the rigged sail, can move us forward.

Aiden liked to start with knowing that God created us as His children. He’d learned this in Sunday School when they’d read the first chapter of Genesis in the Bible.

Dad said that since God made us, there is nothing that can prevent us from being active and happy. This is because God is good and made us good, like Him.

Then Aiden’s dad asked him another question: “What else has to happen before we can sail?”

“We have to untie the line (rope) so the boat isn’t tied to the dock.” 

“What ‘lines’ can keep you tied?” Dad asked.

They talked about all the thoughts that seemed like they could keep him from sailing—thoughts like anger or feeling unloved. Then they prayed, listening for good thoughts from God that would give Aiden freedom. 

Aiden knew he couldn’t be afraid of anything because God isn’t just the biggest power—He is the only power. Aiden also knew he couldn’t be in pain because God loved him and gave him only good. 

Aiden saw that thoughts of fear and pain were trying to tie him to the dock. As they prayed, each bad thought was untied. 

Soon, Aiden was out on the water with his sail in perfect harmony with the wind. Dad watched from the shore, while Aiden sailed along, thanking God for the good thoughts that had healed him.