My wife and I visited some friends on Cape Cod over the weekend for a delightful afternoon of sailing on the husband’s boat.  I’d never been out on a sailboat before and it was a wonderful experience.  After a short while, he let me pilot his beloved vessel – considerable trust on his part!

Well, it was quite interesting.  One thing that I immediately noticed was that relatively small adjustments in steering the boat made significant changes in the direction of the course and the efficiency of the sails’ ability to capture the wind.  It was remarkable how those slight pulls or pushes on the tiller affected things.

When the course adjustments were right, everything moved along smoothly, peacefully, and downright serenely. 

As we gently skimmed over the waves, I thought that this could easily be seen in many ways as a spiritual metaphor for life.

How often do we find ourselves in situations that aren’t going very well or that appear to be headed in a wrong direction? 

Sometimes there is a need for a radical change of course.  But more often, it’s the small adjustments in our thinking that end up having long-term major effects. 

How do we perceive ourselves, others, work, the world, and God?  It’s these perceptions that can affect our success, our relationships, our desire to help, and – as I’ve learned in Christian Science – even our health.

Yes, that’s right.  I’ve seen over and over again that a minor shift of thought – a slight pull or push on the tiller of consciousness towards a more spiritual direction – can yield significant results in our health and well-being, as well as every other aspect of our lives.

So, if you’re yearning for a better life that includes better health – smoother sailing and a safe harbor – you might consider a simple but effective course correction.  One in which an all-loving God is at the helm of your thought.