After a long travel day last week, and arriving at my hotel late in the evening, I thought, “I need to get out and do something other than sit.” So I headed down to the treadmill to run a mile.
No problem, easy to do, and enjoyable to be moving about.
There was a hot tub nearby which looked inviting, so I slithered into the water and relaxed for 10 or 15 minutes.
When I was about to get out, in came another business traveler, a very friendly chap who was quite chatty. We struck up a very cordial conversation, learning from one another and thoroughly enjoying a few minutes away from the demands of work. But a few minutes turned into many minutes, many more than I would normally sit in a hot tub. And it was hot! But all felt very well and fine, so I stayed.
Finally, I decided that I needed to get out of that steamy water and head back to my room. Over the edge I hopped, took a couple of steps in the direction of a towel, and Wham-O, I was hit by a horrible bout of dizziness, and then nausea and weakness. I barely made it to a chair to sit down and save myself from collapsing onto the concrete.
Whoa—I had never had anything like that happen before.
As I sat in the chair and tried to compose myself, I remembered the one Mind that I reflected was all the same whether I sat in a hot tub or not. I was instantly reminded of “laws” of mortal mind that said I was stupid to sit in the hot water for so long. But I knew God’s laws governed me, not presumptions of mortal mind. Christ was present to restore order back to my thought, health to the body and strength to my sense of well being, I affirmed. I had nothing to fear. I needed to stay focused on Truth, and all would be well, I prayed.
The feeling of sickness felt overwhelming, but I held my mental and spiritual ground as best as I could. In 20 minutes or so, I had regained 100% health. I walked back to my room as if nothing had happened.
Afterward, I recounted spiritual lessons to learn from the unpleasant bout.
I thought about how comfortable I felt while sitting in the hot water. I was casually aware that I shouldn’t have been in there so long, but shrugged the fears off because we were having a very pleasant conversation, I felt totally fine, and what was the big deal anyway? Well, because I hadn’t handled the suggestion of “there are consequences to pay” before I stepped out of the water, when I stepped out of the tub I left one state of mortal mind behind (comfort talking and conversing in warm cozy water) and entered another state of mortal mind (now there is a price to pay for staying in that hot water too long!). And wham-o, I was hit broad-side by mortal mind’s penalty. I had been spiritually naïve.
I thought about other states of mortal mind people often enter and believe they are very safe in because they feel physically comfortable; states of mind like, “This pill is taking my pain away. It is good to continue taking them.” And then a point comes when they need to stop, but can’t because of beliefs of addiction. They leave one state of mortal mind only to enter another one which feels even tougher to deal with. Or, “Eating whatever I want whenever I want is fun and enjoyable. I think I’ll keep doing it.” Then one day they realize the hard way that gluttony and uncontrolled appetite have undesirable consequences. Or, “This feels good to skip work, lazy around and put off work for a day…then two days…then three days…” until, oops, we’re way behind.
It’s not safe to get comfortable in a material status quo. We must not be spiritually naïve. A lesson to be heeded!
But the biggest lesson I gained was comparing my experience of in-the-tub-comfortable-and-should-have-gotten-out to Jesus’ message to all of humanity. Basically, Jesus was telling us all to “get out of the tub!” Get out of the tub of materialism, out of the belief that you live in matter and can find comfort in matter. It’s a dangerous place to be!”
He showed us how to “get out of the tub.” He led the way to Spirit, out of material sense, and said, “Follow me.”
Are you heeding his command?
Mortal mind lulls the human mind into believing there is comfort in materialism, in sensuality, in mortality, in money, in physicality, in the world. But this is a lie. It’s like me sitting in the hot tub too long and feeling fine while I’m in it, but once I stepped out, Wham-O, everything went upside down.
Don’t set yourself up to have your world turned upside down someday when the divine imperative comes to “get out of the tub!” Get out today, avoid the penalty, find your way with Christ now, and live free.
Nice, Evan.
You could have enjoyed your convo sitting at the edge of the hot tub.
I’m always grateful when I realize I heard the still, small voice, but didn’t realize that is what it was — and then to realize that no matter how often I miss it, God still talks to me (and all.)
One thing about ‘just’ relaxing in a hot tub or a bath is that it actually causes us to slow down enough in our busy days, that seem to be full of activities that need to be done, to be receptive to the thoughts that we may be too busy to hear the rest of the day. I think it is good to make sure we allow ourselves the space and the opportunities for that daily whether in a hot tub or in some other quiet place.
It is clear that God had an assignation for you — and you would have missed it if you had not been in the hot tub.
Good post — and good comment from Karin. I’m reminded of the lesson Travis learned in Jack Thornton’s book, “Travis Talks with God,” published by The Christian Science Publishing Society in the early ’70s.
I especially liked the phrase, “spiritually naive.”
I liked that phrase too, Kathy.
Evan, I appreciated your example this morning and often think of the power of the “still, small voice” that speaks to us and how advantageous it is when we listen. But what a useful lesson you gleaned from this hot tub experience. I have enjoyed reading about your lessons learned through the experiences you have had and thank you for sharing them with us.
Thanks Evan- fine thoughts – I seem to find myself in “hot water” more often than I’m comfortable with. My son, friend & I thoroughly appreciated your Lecture in Fenton, Michigan recently. We’ve been referring to some of the points from time to time.
Thank you, curiously I had an experience a bit like this last days.
I found as soon as I start to pay attention for my nourishment in the way to care for the ingredients,what is “healthy”, even as silent acception, the food “answers” me in a not so desirable way. I use to be thankful for it, because Im pushed to turn completely away from the matter and radically give the Spirit as the only power. But step by step, we have to keep this level without being reminded in any bad way.
I am confused, Evan.
The suggestion of “there are consequences to pay” for staying in the hot water so long…was that suggestion just another state of mortal mind, as you put it, that should have been handled before you stepped out of the hot tub? Or was it the still small voice from God that we should pay attention to as soon as we hear it?
The suggestion of “there are consequences to pay,” was from mortal mind and should have been handled before it had a chance to validate itself.
Thanks for responding, Evan! Not trying to be nit-picky, just really want to understand. Are you saying then that the undesirable consequences of over-eating (a problem I fight)are from mortal mind and should be handled before they validate themselves or are you saying that by over-eating we are violating the spiritual principle of balance and need to change our eating habits?
I appreciate your clarification.
The only consequences that come from over-eating are whatever you allow mortal mind to outline in your thought and experience. Over-eating is a relative term. However, this is not permission to eat more than you really need. So, rather than trying to regulate your eating, which turns into an exercise of human will, get thought in harmony with Truth and Love. The temptation to overeat suggests a lack of genuine spiritual contentment and happiness, an effort to fill a spiritual void felt with a material substitute. Fill up with spiritual mindedness first, before you eat, and overeating won’t happen.
Thanks for the clarification, Evan. I get it! And thanks for the good work you do…I always appreciate your insights.
Thanks for another great blog! I recently have been working a lot with page 384 of Science and Health where Mrs. Eddy tells us to relieve our minds from the depressing thought we have broken a material law and must pay a penalty. We can reassure ourselves with the divine law of Love. (This is not exact quote). Mortal mind assigns a penalty to everything! Divine Love annuls the penalty! She even says one place that if we believe food disturbs our harmony either the food or the belief must be given up as the penalty is attached to the belief. Handling the suggestions of fear and ‘mortal law’, is freeing and interesting, but sometimes hard work! But worth it!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this blog. It’s very helpful.