Many summers ago, my husband, our four sons, and I were invited by dear friends to join them for a day at their beach house. As everyone was getting out of the car, one of our sons asked me to stay, as he wanted to share a thought he had read in the current Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly. It was about God being present wherever we may be.
During our visit, this son and I decided to go for a swim. The water was smooth and we were enjoying ourselves. However, it wasn’t long before a riptide had formed—something I had never experienced before, even though I had been involved in water sports for years and felt that I knew how to handle myself in the water.
As the current was pulling me away from shore, I remembered what my son had said earlier as we left our car—that God is present wherever we may be. I felt as if I was being sucked underwater as waves crashed over me. I was hardly able to get any air. Then this line from a hymn came to mind: “In atmosphere of Love divine, / We live, and move, and breathe” (H., Christian Science Hymnal, No. 144, adapt.). It was just what I needed, and it helped calm my fears.
