My wife and I were driving through some perilous weather conditions in southern Oregon last March with our pickup and twenty-foot trailer in tow. “Stay on the road,” I kept telling myself as I made decisions about how best to drive the truck and stay safe.
We had a place we needed to be, so decided to keep driving, trusting Mind’s direction each inch of the way to keep us safe and making sound decisions.
As I drove, I thought about the importance of “Staying on the road.” The shortest route to where we needed to be was on the road, not in the ditch.
To stay on the road, I needed to pay attention to the road. I needed to not get distracted by topics, issues, concerns, and worries that had nothing to do with staying on the road and driving safely. I needed to focus on the road and stay alert to Mind’s direction as we decided what to do next to complete our drive.
We made it through fine, and were grateful for the progress, but I was even more grateful for a clear demonstration of keeping thought focused on the need of the moment and arriving at a successful outcome.
Whatever road we’re traveling, if we hope to complete our trip successfully, we need to focus on the road before us. We mustn’t get distracted.
In the pathway to eternal Life, it’s the road of Truth that matters most.
When we keep our mental eye focused on Truth, we won’t get distracted and swayed into the ditch of error. We’ll be where we’re supposed to be.
Stay on the road!
“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention” (Matthew 7:13,14 The Message).
Good morning Evan:
Thanks so much for your spiritual understanding. i pray humbly today that i keep that focus.
Oh! Merci infiniment Evan, quelle bénédiction!!!
« Rester sur la route » c’est parfait. Merci mille fois. C’est exactement ce que j’avais besoin de lire. Merci à Dieu de nous montrer le chemin et de nous y maintenir. Belle journée à tous.
Thank you for your comments Pascale. I studied French in my school years and still love the language, so I’ll give a try at translating (only had to look up a couple words in the French dictionary).
“Oh, infinite thanks Evan, what a blessing! “Stay on the road,” it’s perfect. Thank you a thousand times. It’s exactly what I have wanted/needed to read. Thanks to our God who shows us the path/road and guards and protects us. Beautiful day to all.”
Thank you for the lovely translation, Rose!
Merci infiniment Rose et belle journée.
I just went back to read some of the blog posts from last week and noticed that Jay had suggested an article on Thursday regarding cultivating our spiritual garden and suggested someone post a link if they could. I posted it this morning, but I’m not sure how many go back to review articles and comments so I’m posting it again here though it’s not directly connected to this topic, it’s certainly align with “staying on the road”, and not letting distractions – – the weeds – – into thought
Thank you for this wonderful post this morning Evan! Have a terrific day, everyone!
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/w018rrneu8?s=copylink
Whoops! I meant “J”.
This was from last Thursday BTW
Thank you DKM for so kindly posting this article! A wonderful day to you too. 🙂
Thank you, DKM, for sharing this excellent article. Very helpful! And thank you, Evan, for sharing your inspiration with us. So grateful! ❤️
Thanks for reposting – such a wonderfully beneficial article.
Thank you. I appreciate your sharing
I am so thankful for the repost, DKM! There were times in my life when I felt
those pangs of depression due to unforeseen and circumstances beyond my
control, but.. they were within God’s control. And in listening to Love’s direction,
it was not easy, but the sadness and unfairness that seemed to be… eventually
melted away, replaced with a happiness that was always there, like the sun
on a cloudy day is there, but we just are unaware of it and don’t see it.
Sometimes we let what may not appear to be our God-given perfection try to
drag us down, but we are always reflecting Perfection, regardless what the mortal
picture may Seem to be. If we are a child and do not understand the basics of
mathematics, it doesn’t mean that these basics do not exist. When we become
aware of them and apply their Principle, we Know that our Perfection is how God
sees us and it doesn’t matter how anyone else (like the unaware child of math)
sees us. Matter just doesn’t matter, because it is Spirit that is the real and eternal
and these qualities can never be taken from us or seen by God as anything but Perfect.
Yes, so grateful for your always helpful direction to stay focused on God. Or as you put it to stay on the road. Keep going forward, there are no reverse steps. If we find that we maybe we veer off the road, for a moment, that God will gently lead us back to the right road for he never leaves us.
Thank you hugs
Thank you for this inspiring direction!!!
Wise words – you are adventurous – as life should bbe!
Staying on the road of Truth/God’s direction is the very best place to be. Thank you,
dear Evan, for this fine inspiration and testimony of your divine guidance. And thank
you, too, dear DKM and J for that lovely article. I have had many instances where staying
on the slippery road of mortal’s making has been a shaky journey and “in the weeds”
experience, but God has always seen me through. I recall many times on a snowy morning
on the way to or from work many years ago, on windy, hilly roads, coming around a bend
and there in the middle of the road was a tractor trailer truck who had just jack-knifed and
things were quite scary. It was before cell phones and cars plowing into other cars, unable
to see ahead and stop in time, was always a concern in times like this. But God knows the
angels that we need and sends them to our side, always, when we turn to our caring
Protector of Life and Love.
Thank you.
Thank you, Evan, and all! Very inspiring and helpful.
With love and gratitude,
Karen
Thank you, Evan.
Thank you, Evan. Just the reminder that I needed for today. It is just so easy to lose focus on the good allowing some wandering thought cloud over a clear perspective. I am never less than what God created me to be.
Amen Josef, we do have to be ever watchful of our thought, as Evan tells us today, so we can stay out of the “ditches” of mortal mind.
I came across this quote in Misc Writings p. 119, “If malicious suggestions whisper evil through the mind’s tympanum (eardrum), this were no apology for acting evilly. We are responsible for our thoughts and acts; and instead of aiding other people’s devices by
obeying them,–and then whining over misfortune,–
rise and overthrow both. If a criminal coax the unwary
man to commit a crime, our laws punish the dupe as ac-
cessory to the fact. Each individual is responsible for
himself…..Evil is impotent to turn the righteous man from his
uprightness.”
It’s strong, stern admonition and at first reading seemed harsh, I felt like it was saying we are on our own in a struggle with “our” thoughts. But when she says we are responsible for our our own thoughts and acts, I take that to mean we are responsible and have the freedom to turn humbly to God and allow divine Mind to direct our thoughts (and acts). She did say in S&H p. 1, “Thoughts unspoken are not unknown to the divine Mind. Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires (thoughts), that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds.”
The whole of being individual created in the image and likeness of God is that we are free to complete the cycle of love: divine love given, recognized, and returned demonstrating the power of spirit to guide and surround.
Another excellent article by Karen Neff. Thank you Karen! Not being distracted by being watchful:
“The watchfulness that brings peace”:
https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/A-Christian-Science-Perspective/2024/0624/The-watchfulness-that-brings-peace?j=1116949&sfmc_sub=15567110&l=1221_HTML&u=40722936&mid=10979696&jb=4&cmpid=ema:CSPerspective:20240701&src=newsletter
Thank you for sharing. My car has a safety feature which flashes “Steering needed!” across the dashboard any time it senses that I may be drifting out of the lane. I like to apply the same idea to thought- am I letting my thoughts drift away from good, away from Truth? Steering needed!
Thank you, dear Evan for your today’s SpiritView to be watchful on our pathway to eternal life, yea to heaven. It’s the way of Truth that matters most, as you say so rightly.
I really do need to keep my mental eye totally focused on Truth inorder not to get distracted and swayed into the mental ditch of error. And I am very very grateful that in Christian Science I learn to see to God what he plans for me and listen and pray how God wants to guide me. Then we can be healed totally, wonderful!
Thanks a lot J and Karen for your article. It’s very good, so that i listen to it oncemore.
Thank you all for your inspired and interesting comments!
However I am very greatful that English was from the first English word on, I learnt at school, my favorite subject and my passion. So I am happy that I can understand you all and can comment here together with you! Love to you all. ❤️
Hi Uta, I’m glad you have a passion for the English language that enables you to be a wonderful part of the SpirtView community. I admire your dedication to study the language and it’s clear to see your joy in it as well as your joy in Christian Science.
Thank you very much indeed. Dear Rose!
You always have very interesting and inspiring comments!♡♡♡