Speaker: Sometimes our lives seem caught in a whirlpool of events. And we seem not strong enough or wise enough to get out of it. Our guest's experience was like that. She's going to tell you about it and how awareness of God's all-power and unchanging love saved her—blessed her whole experience. She's Mrs. Carolyn E. Mooers, of San Rafael, California.

When was this, Mrs. Mooers?

Mrs. Mooers: This took place a number of years ago at a very unhappy time in my life. I had just left my husband, and my daughter and I were staying with my mother and brother.

One day we were up in the mountains of northern California on a picnic, and my brother and I were swimming in a river which was rather deep and treacherous. I was swimming downstream by myself when I was caught in a deep whirlpool and pulled under. My brother swam out to rescue me, but I was struggling so hard I almost strangled him, and he was forced to return to shallow water, completely exhausted.

A strong feeling of resentment and futility swept over me. The hopelessness of the situation and the pressure of the water made me feel so weak that I just had no resistance at all. I'd swallowed a lot of water, and as I was going down for what I thought was the last time, my whole life experience came to my thought. And in that moment I recalled the training I'd had as a child when I'd attended the Christian Science Sunday School for a few months.

Then, in a great burst of light, I remembered learning that God is divine Love; and I thought if God is Love, God will take care of me, and nothing else has any power. A great sense of Love seemed to envelop me. I just turned unreservedly to God and placed myself in His loving care. Immediately I felt a great sense of peace, and a wonderful transformation took place in my thinking—all fear, self-pity, resentment vanished. I didn't feel alone any more. The ever-presence and all-power of God became so real to me that nothing else seemed to have any power. With this came the strength and clarity of thought which enabled me to swim to the surface and out to the bank of the river, and my brother pulled me out.

It really was an experience you could hardly put into words. And it meant a complete revolution in my life. I knew I had gained something very vital to me, and I began to study Christian Science. I felt a spiritual insight into things—more tolerance, more patience and consideration, more compassion, and a desire to do all I could to help others. I also had a great desire to learn more and more of God.

This change in my outlook began to affect what was going on in my life in so many ways. Before it happened, I'd made up my mind never to go back to my husband. But afterward, I was able to see things differently. I saw that I could help him and also that I couldn't run away from this problem. Soon I had a letter from him, and this opened the way.

So, I went back to him, and in the many years that followed, Christian Science brought many blessings to our family and to our home. The realization of divine Love I gained in this experience has been a beacon light to me ever since.

Speaker: Yes, and the realization of divine Love's ever-presence and power can be a beacon light to everybody. Thank you so much, Mrs. Mooers, for sharing the experience with us.

What does it really mean, friends, to know that God is ever-present divine Love? Christian Science shows us that it means that all of God's power and strength and wisdom is constanly being imparted to mankind. Divine Love's protection and direction are therefore available to every one of God's children under all circumstances, at all times.

Love was the very heart of the teachings of Christ Jesus. The Master was always aware of the Father's tender care and love for those around him and for all mankind. He assured his followers, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

Our real safety and our happiness lie in getting a correct understanding of God as divine Love. The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us that Love gives us the clearest idea of God. Christian Science teaches us how we can put this understanding of divine Love to practical use in our daily lives.

In her book "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says (p. 250): "I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results. Unless these appear, I cast aside the word as a sham and counterfeit, having no ring of the truemetal. Love cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness without activity and power. As a human quality, the glorious significance of affection is more than words: it is the tender, unselfish deed done in secret; the silent, ceaseless prayer; the self-forgetful heart that overflows; the veiled form stealing on an errand of mercy, out of a side door: the little feet tripping along the sidewalk; the gentle hand opening the door that turns toward want and woe, sickness and sorrow, and thus lighting the dark places of earth."

Christ Jesus said, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." The Master's great love for mankind enabled him to heal their ills. It also enabled him to rebuke and destroy self-righteousness, envy, jealousy, and resentment. He could destroy these ungodlike qualities, because he knew they could never be expressed by man, made in God's likeness.

Sometimes, though, it seems to take a sharp experience to remind us of this, as it did in Mrs. Mooer's case. But the clear realization of divine Love's ever-presence and power rescued her from a dangerous situation and later restored harmony in her affairs.

The way to aviod experiencing bitterness and inharmony rests with us. Christian Science teaches us that it is not enough to ignore a troublesome situation or refuse to face up to responsibilities. We must live in accord with the law of divine Love. Our obligation to God lies in practicing Godlike qualities in everyday life. This is true prayer as taught in Christian Science. It is active prayer. It eliminates unhappiness, frustration, resentment, and restores harmony in our human experience.

And there's no limit to our capacity to receive the blessings of divine Love, as Mrs. Eddy brings out in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 6): "'God is Love.' More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go."

The musical selection on the program was Hymn No. 148 from the Christian Science Hymnal (In heavenly Love abiding).