I was driving through a residential part of town approaching a 4 corner intersection with no stop signs on my street. I looked both ways for cars with none in sight and prepared to cruise right on through.
Then suddenly, a little boy on his bicycle jetted out in front of my car from the side. He was oblivious to his stop sign. He was oblivious to me. He was oblivious to anything else happening in the world except for his wobbly attempts to keep from falling off his bike.
I was driving around 25 mph, so a quick jam on my brakes stopped my car, and all was well. I watched him pass safely and he pedaled on with a slight glance to the side noticing my presence but still resolved to keep on going without fail.
I expressed quiet gratitude to God for seeing him before it was too late. But I also started thinking about how important it is that we watch out for our brother and sister.
If I had a headstrong life-attitude of, “Leave me alone. I’m following the rules. Mind your own business. Stay out of my life,” I might not have been as aware as I should have to notice that boy who was not obeying the rules and whose acts were coming into collision with mine. One of us needed to modify our behavior to prevent disaster. In this case, it was me, and appropriately so. But there are many other instances in life where the same rule applies, and to our grown-up neighbors.
People don’t always do what they’re supposed to. They may not know the rules, may ignore them, or may be under the influence of poor reasoning that leads to bad decisions. And it may put them on a collision course with our own actions. But there doesn’t need to be a collision if we are alert and aware to loving our neighbor as ourselves.
We can be the one who stops when the other runs the stop sign. We can take the first action that prevents disaster. We can put human ego aside and act in such a way that blesses both parties.
We can watch out for our brother and sister and act in their best interest, which will serve our best interest in the long run.
We are all members of God’s one big family, and we’re supposed to help each other out. It’s not an option. It’s what family members do.
SO grateful for the protection of both of you! Excellent counsel, not only for actions, but with our words to one another. Thank you Evan.
After a near-miss (my fault) at an intersection a couple of weeks ago, I determined to stop driving on auto-pilot and to be consciously aware of others just as they had been aware of me! I’m now driving with better attention to other drivers, pedestrians, signals etc. Several times I’ve been able to show consideration when others seem to be oblivious, and you’ve expressed exactly why this feels so good. We have all been protected when I am loving my neighbor and watching out.
Human Will is what’s behind bully ness and must be watched constantly for it may take over some one with a good heart. This happened to me over this weekend and is still in progress thou I prayed that it doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Thank you, Evan for this message and your blog. Reading it each day enriches my life and has helped, and continues to help me to understand God, his spiritual creation and my place in it. I can’t find good words to express my gratitude, and I am sure your many readers feel the same way. Many, Many Thanks!!
This adds an entirely new dimension to my understanding of what it means to “watch” in Christian Science. Thanks for this! Very loving and unselfish ideas I can use daily.
Man what a great example to demonstrate the larger truth! Thank you!
Loved it !!!! thank you!
Reminds me of the passage from last weeks Bible lesson on “Love.” “…blessed is that man who seeth his brother’s need and supplieth it, seeking his own in anothers good.”
Science and Health p.518
Thanks for this message! Today I was in the grocery, and was trying to help others – although my thought was somewhat critical of the employees because I found a lot of items that were past their expiration date – but I pointed out some of the expired items to an employee, and mentioned to another customer that the 16 oz sour creams were the same price as the 8 oz, and just generally was trying to help others. Then when I got to the register I realized I’d dropped a $2 off coupon. I was upset – thinking I might should put back my favorite orange juice, because I’d counted on that coupon to buy it – but turned to God, asking to be led where to look for the coupon, and who to ask for help. I walked all over where I’d been, but ti was very busy, and I couldn’t find it. I know this is kind of a trite example, but I just kept thinking, I was trying to help other people while I was in the store, and I couldn’t be punished for it. Finally I saw an employee and asked him about it, and he said when I got to the register, to tell a manager and they’d give me the $2 off. I was so grateful for that!