Russ Gerber

On a late afternoon, our family went kayaking on a nearby lake. Upon heading out, one family member had to make a sudden maneuver and lost his eyeglasses into the lake. The lifeguard staff were contacted, and they estimated that the water was roughly 10-feet deep where they fell in. Nonetheless, two men from the lifeguard staff dove in and looked for them until sunset. They returned empty-handed. They said the following day they could renew the search, and this time it would be with a crew who had access to scuba gear. If anything turned up, they’d let us know.

The next day came and went with no call-back. On the third day I decided to pay them a visit. I wanted to see if they were able to search, and if so what, if anything, turned up. Also, if they hadn’t yet searched, maybe I could suggest a place to look that hadn’t occurred to anyone the day before.

It wouldn’t be the first time that happened.

I’m a firm believer in everyone’s ability to listen spiritually and be directed by God, divine intelligence, to whatever is needed to maintain harmony. The words of Isaiah describe this always-available guidance this way: “Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isa 30:21). From the start I’d been praying about this situation (as had other family members), and we were hopeful for a good outcome. Perhaps my spiritual intuition would prove beneficial.

When I got to the lake, and to the office of the lifeguard staff, I inquired about the scuba search. They said they were sorry, but the divers had indeed looked thoroughly for the glasses the previous day but found nothing. I thanked them for their generous help and headed home.

This wasn’t the end of the world, of course, but it was disappointing. It was tempting to just forget about the whole experience and move on.

Still, I continued to listen to God for any other way I could be of service. I knew that Spirit, God, is always communicating to His creation. As Science and Health explains: “Spirit imparts the understanding which uplifts consciousness and leads into all truth” (p. 505). What did God want me to know or do now? Realistically, what was possible at this point?

Then a simple thought occurred to me, as if to show me what I had lost sight of.  The thought was this: the lifeguard crew had the same spiritual sense and capacity to be directed by God that I had. We all do. This ability isn’t some special dispensation to Christian Scientists. Mary Baker Eddy says, “Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God” (S&H p. 209). It’s helpful to know this and to nurture this capacity certainly, but it is impartial. No one has more spiritual sense to utilize than anyone else. I had assumed that by being on the scene among the lifeguards I might have some insight that no one else there would have. That was wrong.

This was a much-needed, constructive reminder to me of the right way to see things, and it brought with it a sense of peace. Lesson learned.

Actually, it was learned in an even bigger way. The next day the lifeguard office called with news. Without any request from us, it occurred to them to go out one more time and search for the glasses, which they did. They were found, intact, and are now back with their owner.

Everyone benefits by being listeners to the source of wisdom and love. And as I was reminded, we should expect that to be true for everyone in every experience of our lives.