Physics isn't complicated. Everywhere I look this week, I see Newton's Third Law of Motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. At the homeowners' meeting I offered the notion that there would be more harmony among the group if the Board of Directors would fill vacancies with people who had actually run for office and received votes. Rather, the board picks those they "like" who will continue their policies.

Up jumped a man of a certain age. "If you had read the bylaws," he said in a booming, authoritative voice, "you would know the board could pick who they want." And then he went on, and on, and on. Aha, Newton's Third Law of Motion — a woman makes a statement about consensus and a man has an opposite view — selection by a few. "I have read the bylaws," I offered, "and I am merely suggesting that the will of the majority be recognized." Again, the opposite reaction from the man. And, like in the United States so often today, all other voices then were silenced.

Now some might characterize the homeowners' exchange as dismissal of woman as trivial. Some might call it politics, some an oversensitive feminist reaction on my part. Some might. But as a law of physics, the experience brings a new perspective to daily life — at least to me.

As the light emerges later in the morning and disappears earlier in the afternoon, I notice that an object at rest (me under the down quilt) tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction — unless the phone rings or guilt unbalances me and I finally get up. Newton's First Law is a good description of my going to bed and getting up in the fall and winter months to come.

We are still at war and may go into more countries — this war doesn't seem to end: The rate of change of momentum of an object is directly proportional to the resultant force acting on it, says Newton's Third Law. Could there be a better description of the apathy, fear, confusion of the populace? Where is the force that could bring change? What disarmed physics and parted the Red Sea? What power, force beyond physics lifted Elijah up, what laws provided the context described in Matthew 17:1-3: "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him."

Water into wine at the Wedding at Cana — was that an expanded version of Newton's Third Law — the change in the water proportional to the force expended by Jesus at that feast? "We walk in the footsteps of Truth and Love by following the example of our Master in the understanding of divine metaphysics," says Mary Baker Eddy in her book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." The statement gives me food for thought as I think about how to get out of bed with a little more grace and enthusiasm and, thank the end of daylight saving time for the help it will give me Sunday morning to get to church on time.

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Lynne Bundesen is the author of five books on religion and was adjunct professor at the Boston Theological Institute under a Templeton Science and Religion Grant. She is currently the spiritual expert for the physical and spiritual health website of Dr. Andrew Weil. Her book "The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing the Heart of Scripture" was just published. Her email address is {email lynnebundesen@hotmail.com}lynnebundesen@hotmail.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Lynne Bundesen.