Over a year ago I experienced a concrete demonstration of God's law in operation, and of His power and grace to save me from a bad situation. I was on a Hawaiian Sunday scuba-diving excursion. From a large commercial fishing boat anchored in the marine roadstead off Diamond Head, I dived with scuba tank to the bottom, one hundred feet down. When I regained the surface about twenty minutes later, I saw that I had been taken by a strong ocean current about half a mile from the boat. I found myself in extremely choppy water, where two island-circling currents apparently met. I tried in vain to open the rusted gas valve on my Mae West, and was too out of breath to blow on the mouth valve. I had managed to drop my weight belt, but still carried the heavy air tank. My snorkel filled with water, and I was gasping violently for breath. A minute more of this, and I would have drowned. In this extremity I called, "Help me, Father." Through Christian Science I had learned that God made me and that He cares for each of His children at all times.

Suddenly I caught sight of a yacht under sail about 200 yards away, headed my way. Literally with my last breath I shouted to attract attention. My feeble cry was heard, for the yacht suddenly shifted course and headed straight for me. Willing hands leaned over the rail to grab my arms as the yacht swept past.

Thus I was saved from drowning. It was proof to me in my own experience of what Mrs. Eddy so beautifully states in relation to Christ Jesus' restoration of Lazarus in Science and Health (p. 493): "Who dares to doubt this consummate test of the power and willingness of divine Mind to hold man forever intact in his perfect state, and to govern man's entire action?" The helmsman of the rescuing yacht, a woman, told me later that her skipper had repeatedly ordered her to "luff off," which in this case meant to change course to better skirt the island. If she had obeyed him—and she said that she had always heretofore obeyed his slightest command—those on board would have neither seen nor heard me, a tiny dot far out in the agitated sea. She did not know why this time she disobeyed him; but, from my view, wasn't it because she was obeying a higher authority? The Bible tells us, "He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters" (Ps. 18:16).

I attribute this remarkable rescue to my many years of reliance on God, as taught to me in the Christian Science Sunday School, and of reading and studying the Bible Lessons in the Christian Science Quarterly all through my life.

Through the years I have learned to know God better, rely on Him more, and trust Him more explicitly—all through the teachings and gentle ministrations of this divine Science.

I have had more than one such swimming experience in various parts of the globe, where my knowledge of God, fortified by prayer, has brought me through safely.

Another more recent time I was swimming just outside the wave area off the Kona coast on the isle of Hawaii. I was so occupied watching the fish through my mask that I did not notice I had drifted into the area where the big waves were forming and crashing on the rough black lava coast.

Suddenly a big wave grasped me and threw me up on the shore. I could see nothing but a welter of white wave through my mask. I put out my hands to break whatever contact I might have with the unyielding lava as my body was flung forward. When the wave finally receded, I found myself on a black lava shelf, and from that stepped safely onto the shore. I had been flung up on the only smooth piece of lava on the entire coastline in that area. As I was flung forward blindly, all I could think of was my inseparability from God.

These two instances speak to me of the Father's eternal love and timely care. His is instant care. Who could have put it better than Mrs. Eddy: "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Science and Health, p. 494)!

(Mrs.) Chaffee Castleton
Sherman Oaks, California