I was twelve years old sitting in a Christian Science Sunday School when I realized that God was infinite, divine Love who created us in His image and likeness, and not some superhero up in the clouds randomly deciding how to interact with His children. Once I had that awakening, I looked at human life differently. My thought evolved from looking at myself as a finite, material mortal subject to sin, accident, disease, and death, to realizing the harmonious, eternal life that is established and maintained by God.
From that point forward, I was grateful to witness many instances of God in action. Three times that I have experienced His protection over the years evidence this spiritual truth: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1). In each case I faced danger, but witnessed dominion and peace because of my reliance on Christian Science.
In the first instance, not long after my realization in Sunday School, some friends and I embarked one morning on an all-day bicycle trip. After a few miles, the group encouraged me to go to the front of the line. As I started to lead the group, the trail turned a sharp corner, the surrounding trees fell away, and I realized I was descending a narrow, ravine-like trail from the top of a high, steep hill. The trail was a deep ditch, which made an exit impossible. I tried braking, but that didn’t slow me down. My speedometer read 30 miles per hour, and then I noticed that at the bottom of the hill a three-foot-wide oak tree blocked the trail.
