A small car, lots of miles, and one big lesson
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
Zoom, zoom, zoom—that was me and my little car. I racked up the miles, enjoying every minute of it.
Although my car was running perfectly, the whole family began to grumble about it, predicting mechanical failures at any time.
It didn’t make any sense. One moment everything was fine, the next moment it seemed as if disaster was about to strike. These weren’t passing comments or minor concerns, either.
With everyone else worried, I began to worry. Even though I wasn’t having any trouble with the car, I was afraid that I’d be stranded unexpectedly. I curtailed my forays into the world and always had a back-up plan so someone could come get me if the car broke down. My worry list grew in tandem with the negative remarks. Could these wheels be trusted to shuttle the family outings, or should we look for a replacement? Did the car need immediate preventive repairs?
Our budget was already maxed out. There was no way it could handle a new car payment or extensive repairs. I was feeling stressed, but instead of a family squabble over cars and finances, I sought spiritual guidance for a solution.
By reading the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, I was learning to think from a spiritual standpoint. When I wondered how to handle the clamor flooding my thought, Science and Health turned me to God for help sorting things out.
Science and Health points out that it is God, Spirit, who gives us the understanding we need to think rightly. It explains, “Spirit imparts the understanding which uplifts consciousness and leads into all truth. The Psalmist saith: ‘The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.’ Spiritual sense is the discernment of spiritual good.” It was clear that I wasn’t the first person to feel overwhelmed by a flood of troublesome thoughts, but I saw a solution in this passage from the book.
First, it explains how to identify thoughts that are in line with God and spiritual good and then makes clear how to cast out those that rest on human beliefs rather than divine guidance. I felt a lot less pressure once I realized I only needed to look to God, divine Mind, as the source of all true communication, rather than to human wisdom—my own or someone else’s.
Strengthened by this insight, I rejected the barrage of worrisome thoughts. I clung to the fact that divine Mind communicates through intelligence, wisdom, patience, and right action. And since I’m the child of God—just as all of us are His children—I would be receptive to divine direction wherever I went. From this spiritual viewpoint, I took a second look at the situation.
I realized I had never had any fears about the car until my family voiced their concerns. The car was over five years old and paid for. Some people believe “once it’s paid for, it will fall apart!” But with wisdom guiding my thoughts and actions, I realized that there was no need to obey what amounted to a superstition! I could trust God to guide me.
Nor did we need to fall prey to tantalizing ads for new cars. Calm reliance on spiritual intuition and inspiration helped us avert the temptation to make rash decisions.
I began to reclaim the freedom of driving anywhere, anytime, as I’d always done. All the negative feelings about the car faded away, and I happily owned this vehicle for several more years. The car never let me down. No major repairs were ever required, but I finally decided it was time for a new car.
One day a college student came to see me about buying my nine-year-old car for his daily commute. He tested it thoroughly, and it passed his inspection with flying colors. He bought the car on the spot, and the “old jalopy” went on to a new life on campus. We were both jubilant over the deal.
I was elated, not only because I’d had years of worry-free transportation at a great savings, but because I had made great progress in my ability to think from a spiritual standpoint and it’s blessed me ever since.
No basis for fear:
Science and Health
505:16-21
392:24-32 Stand
King James Bible
Acts 17:28 we live (to ;)