Jonathan B. - “Exams/papers/DOMINION!” part 2 (or “Exam Time”) has been reprinted from the Christian Science Sentinel, Jan. 15–22, 2006
Wasn’t sure which forum to post this in—but here it is: I was wondering if y’all would want to bounce ideas around on how to prepare spiritually for exams. Historically, I have found this time of year (now until mid-December) extremely stressful. The human picture—very little time to pack a lot of information into the grey matter in my head. Of course—in the divine sense, God supplies the answer to every question and need. For me, exams are exhausting and frightening. I know they don’t need to be—and any advice or spiritual inspirations would be greatly appreciated! (more…)
Melissa Lande - Adapted from the Christian Science Sentinel,
March 12, 2007.
My favorite sport is snowboarding. I love to push the limits, learn new tricks, and overcome challenges.
A few years ago, I was a member of a competitive snowboarding team. My coach was helping a lot of my teammates do a new trick on what is called a “C Box”—it’s a narrow, raised platform that curves like the letter C. It has sharp edges, and to master the trick requires impeccable balance.
When I saw how difficult it would be, I felt very afraid. I pictured myself falling and getting hurt. Filled with fear, I sat and watched the others try it.
Anjuli Graunke - Article originally appeared in the Christian Science Sentinel Oct. 30, 2006)
I was living away from home for the summer, doing an internship prior to my sophomore year in college. One bright, sunny Saturday my roommate and I decided it was perfect for rollerblading. We strapped on our skates and set out for the afternoon.
I was enjoying the day, until gravel suddenly lodged in the wheels of one of my skates. One foot stopped moving while the other kept going forward. I landed hard on the sidewalk, and during the impact my sunglasses broke, cutting my forehead deeply.
Lizzie - Reprinted from the Christian Science Sentinel, May 21, 2007.
One afternoon a year ago, during an athletic class in school, my best friend Sophie and I were running around the track. Sophie told me that she had a really bad headache. She knew that I was a Christian Scientist and that I prayed to find healing when I had problems. We’d talked together before about some healings I’d had when I was younger.
Reprinted from The Christian Science Journal, June 2007
After the death of a friend in seventh grade, I carried around a feeling of sadness and guilt. I felt that I had made mistakes and let people down, and hadn’t always been the friend I could have been. The sadness became habitual. At times it took on almost an air of arrogance and became a reason not to be lively or outreaching.
During my sophomore year of college, I struggled with a dark feeling of depression. I had gotten into the habit of harshly condemning myself for every little imperfect thought or behavior. I felt overwhelmed with the appearance of evil in the world, and I was filled with a great desire to help others, yet I felt inadequate to do anything with all my imperfections and fears. Life seemed sad and hopeless. (more…)
Mark Unger - The Christian Science
Journal, January 2007
I was raised in a home where we relied on Christian Science treatment to heal our problems. Our parents took us to the Christian Science Sunday School where I learned about the all-loving God, who is Love itself. I knew I could trust Love’s constant care of me. As a young boy, through my mother’s prayer, I had experienced spiritual healing of an extremely painful ear infection. When in grade school, I had also successfully healed a burn on my finger through my own prayers. So I felt pretty confident that God could always help and heal me.
As a teenager, while playing football with some friends, I severely sprained my ankle. It quickly swelled up. The pain was so intense I couldn’t walk on the foot at all. I had to be carried home. I called a Christian Science practitioner to pray with me for healing. She gave me hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal to read and think about. They mostly had to do with not being afraid because God’s power and goodness are always all around me, caring for me and protecting me. (more…)
Judith M. Bell - The Christian Science Journal, January 2007
I started smoking as a teenager. After about 15 years, I wanted to be free of cigarettes. The smell of smoke on my clothes and on my body had become offensive to me, yet I couldn’t seem to break the habit. Using will power to stop smoking just didn’t work. I’d quit for a time but then pick it right back up again when I felt I needed something to calm me or when I was in a social situation where smoking made me feel more sophisticated. (more…)
Liz Denison - Adapted from the Christian Science Sentinel, March 26, 2007
As I stepped off the plane in the middle of the summer, I began to think about all the commitments I would face during my upcoming sophomore year in high school. Between homework, volleyball practice, exams, and college visits, I wasn’t going to have much unscheduled time.
I was returning home after taking Christian Science class instruction. During the 12 days of the course, I’d had several hours each day to study and pray on my own. But now that I was back home, I began to worry that I might not be able to balance a busy daily routine with quiet time for spiritual study. (more…)
Rosie - The Christian Science Sentinel, Dec. 11, 2006
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to pray for the world.
With the various disruptive events on our planet, I have tried to focus on the good, and understand more of the nature of God’s government. But I keep coming back again and again to one question—how can I pray for someone, something, halfway across the world, and know whether my prayers are actually helping?
Earlier this year, I helped form an online forum for teenagers around the world who share a common interest in a certain Japanese animation series. A few weeks ago, one of the Indonesian members posted a message saying that a close friend of hers had been hit in the face with a soccer ball while wearing glasses. She asked us to please pray for her friend. (more…)
Chet Manchester - The Christian Science Journal Dec. 2006
As a college student, I traveled to Kenya for a study-abroad program that took me and about 20 other students to some of the most beautiful game parks in the world. Afterward, a friend and I set out on our own to meet the extraordinary African people themselves. We eventually found ourselves in a nearly deserted village by the shoreline of Lake Victoria. It was a gorgeous setting, and I was puzzled why so few people lived there. We soon learned that this region had been plagued by malaria, and many people had been forced to move away.
We’d been traveling through the general area for a few days, and I hadn’t given a second thought to the mosquitoes, but suddenly I felt in real danger. Many people who live or travel to Africa take malaria pills to protect themselves from the disease. These drugs are not totally effective, and because I’ve always relied on Christian Science for my health, I hadn’t considered using them. Prayer, as I’ve come to understand its depth and practicality through my study of the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings, has proved to be not just a wishing game, but a power that is immediately at hand and 100 percent effective. So, when I began to experience the symptoms of malaria during the next few days, it was natural for me to pray. (more…)
