THE FOG WAS THICK, OUR NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM nonfunctional, and the coastline we were following back to port rocky. Once he'd realized the trouble we were in, our sailing instructor had stationed my husband on deck to warn passing boats of our presence, charted a course to the marina from a nearby buoy, and assigned me the task of steering us to safety with the compass points he provided.
I'd never had to navigate by compass before, and I was struck by the focus it required. For over an hour I kept my eyes locked on the numbers, knowing that the slightest deviation could mean missing the narrow entrance to the marina and continuing down the long California coast—or, worse, crashing onto the rocks. But the attentiveness paid off. We reached our destination and slipped past the craggy breakwater without incident.
The experience made an impression. I saw firsthand how single-minded a person can be when everything depends on reaching one's goal. And it reminded me of the many times that Mary Baker Eddy encouraged students of Christian Science to stay focused on their objective—spiritual growth—and not be distracted by the pull of matter.
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