Obeying the Road Angels

CAN anything really ensure our safety on the highways these days when it seems increasingly common that people are driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol? To be sure, seat belts and defensive driving do help, yet for us to be genuinely safe, something more is needed. God's directing thoughts -- angels, actually -- are real and can help in such situations. The title of this piece, though, is not meant to suggest that we'll find celestial, feathery folk flitting about, directing traffic in potentially hazardous situations. But just because we don't see them as winged creatures does not mean that angels don't exist; they do exist and can make a difference.

Remember from the Bible how God sent an angel and shut the lions' mouths in Daniel's behalf?1 Or how an angel warned Joseph to take refuge in Egypt so that Herod would not harm the baby Jesus?2 In Psalms there is this timeless promise: ``He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.''3

Just what are these angels? In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says: ``Angels are not etherealized human beings, evolving animal qualities in their wings; but they are celestial visitants, flying on spiritual, not material, pinions. Angels are pure thoughts from God, winged with Truth and Love, no matter what their individualism may be.''4

The concept of angels ``flying on spiritual, not material, pinions'' comes from the understanding of God as infinite Spirit, as the Bible describes Him. God isn't a variable, fickle creator whose voice we may hear from the clouds if we're lucky. He's the one infinite, omnipresent Spirit, the one Mind, forever imparting good to His creation. And our true being is His expression, His spiritual offspring, inseparable from His care. Angels provide proof of that care. And because ``angels are pure thoughts,'' they are present at all times to uplift and heal.

God's communication with man is not limited. We are accustomed to time and space limitations, to influences of race, cul-ture, religion, geography, education, and so forth. But with the thoughts from God, there is no limitation.

I am trying to strengthen the daily habit of listening to these inspired thoughts instead of simply relying on personal inclinations (which aren't up to the task at hand). One time, as I drove home on a rainy day with my two young children in the car, the message came, ``Look again!'' as I started through an intersection on a green light. I had checked the intersection once, but obediently I checked again and saw a large delivery truck, apparently oblivious of the red light, approaching the intersection. I stopped. The truck rumbled right past and traffic continued.

It is an aspect of God's love to provide man continuously with divine thought. Our responsibility is to listen and respond to His direction. Daily prayer, communion with the one Mind, can help us immensely in learning to be receptive to God's thoughts and to follow His guidance. Our response to the unspeakable love of God can be our key to obedience. That is, what we love, we obey. And love for God, good, is natural.

Our response, then, to God's love opens our thought to His angels and inspires our obedience. It can ensure our safety on the road under any circumstance.

1See Daniel 6:22. 2See Matthew 2:13. 3Psalms 91:11. 4Science and Health, p. 298.

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