The Dutch called her “New Amsterdam,” Washington Irving dubbed her “Gotham,” Frank Sinatra sang, she’s “a city, that doesn’t sleep.” And on my first visit to New York City at age seven, I called her a dream. Through my impressionable young eyes the city was a surreal place where more happened in one minute than during the entire year in my second grade classroom back in Orange County, California. I absorbed every taste, scent, sight, and sound, from the skyward soaring concrete and glass on Sixth Avenue to the earthbound trees and grass in Central Park, and left with a new dream—to come back and stay.

Twelve years later, my dream was fulfilled. Only problem, it felt more like a nightmare than a dream. (more…)

I was praying about Christmas a few weeks ago. From the news around the world to some news in my own family, I was starting to feel that this would not be a joy-filled Christmas but rather one filled with doubt, fear, and loss. But I LOVE Christmas! There is no other time of year I like better. I love the decorations, the spirit, and most of all, I love the focus on the Christ that my family has always brought to the season. So I was feeling like all the unhappy news was coming at such a bad time. Not that there would be a good time for it, but coming at Christmas just made it worse. (more…)

“Wait a minute!” you might be protesting. “Love myself? That sounds like self-centered, ego-tripping, caught-up-into-my-own-world, look-at-me-everybody, type of thinking. It sounds so conceited. And aren’t we supposed to avoid worship of self?” (more…)

Kevin H. – the Christian Science Sentinel, Dec. 17, 2007

A few years ago, I didn’t know where my life was headed. I’d just begun college, and I had a growing feeling of uncertainty about the future, which turned into a fear of the future. I didn’t know which major to choose or which friends to hang out with, and I found being a college student was more of a struggle than I’d ever imagined.

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by Catherine Hellman

Have you ever gotten so down and depressed that it is a struggle to see the light of day? Have you ever felt like you would never feel good again? Does it seem like good things happen to some people and not others?

I’ve been working through a tough relationship problem. And it made me completely depressed—I felt unhappy and worthless. It seemed like I had no value because this specific relationship problem proved that I was worthless to everyone. At least that’s how it felt.

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The Christian Science Journal, Feb. 2006

I grew up a Muslim. In my homeland of Indonesia, Islam constitutes the majority religion. And in certain areas, such as the part of the country I’m originally from, religious tensions can easily mount because of extremists who tolerate no faith but their own.

While going to Islamic high school, I took a comparative religions class and learned about many faiths I had never heard of before. This education helped, because when I later moved to Jakarta to attend college, I began to search for a religion that would explain God and help me out of my problems.

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Laurel Caswell - Reprinted from The Christian Science Journal, June 2007

I had always thought of myself as a pretty happy person. I think that’s how most other people saw me, too. And, as a lifelong Christian Scientist, I had trusted God to be my first and only Physician. That is, until I went to college. Soon after I began my studies, I couldn’t wake up in time to get to classes. I found no joy in most activities. I felt riddled with depression, anger, and anxiety. I found solace only by staying in my dorm room and even then felt extremely anxious. Sure that I would flunk out of school if I didn’t do something fast, I went to a psychologist. Although she was kind, gentle, and genuinely interested in my well-being, she had a grim diagnosis for me. She said I needed medication for severe depression. She said I would need to take it for the rest of my life, likening my condition to a life-threatening disease. This scared me even further. I felt beyond all hope.
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by Leslie – Adapted from the
Christian Science Sentinel, April 24, 2006

Love is universal

Last year when I was a junior in high school, I heard about a program called “Experiment in International Living.” This sounded really interesting to me. Pretty soon I was preparing for a five-week summer trip to Botswana, in southern Africa. Here are some reflections from my travel journal:

Day 3

After traveling for two days from Boston, Massachusetts, I’m finally in Botswana with the rest of our group—17 students and two leaders. We spent the first three days at a nature reserve so we could rest and get to know each other. I’ve met some pretty cool people so far. I’m excited about this whole experience but I’m also a little apprehensive. I’ll be living with a family in a village called Oodi for the next two weeks. My days will be spent taking classes in their main language, Setswana, as well as helping teach math in the local schools, and touring the community. (more…)

Drew Harbur – The Christian Science Sentinel, July 24-31, 2006

You may have heard of the so-called “Monday morning syndrome.” You know, that time of the week generally associated with trying to wake up after a few days of relaxing, sleeping in, and doing things you actually want to do. In freshman year, I used to start my week with this feeling, and wander around until Tuesday afternoon wishing I could take a nap—or that Friday would hurry up and arrive.

But lately I’ve been questioning the validity of this feeling. It’s a waste of a day.

Think about how many moments are in a Monday—moments to do something nice for someone, moments to pray, moments to notice a warm breeze or watch birds chasing each other. (more…)

Mariah - The Christian Science Sentinel Oct 16, 2006

In the summer of 2005 I participated in a counselor-in-training program at a camp for Christian Scientists.

Part of the training included a five-day hiking trip in the Appalachian Mountains. Several days before our group set out, I prepared myself mentally as well as physically. I thought about these lines from a hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal: “I walk with Love along the way, / And O, it is a holy day” (Minny M. H. Ayers, No. 139). I also prayed with this quote from Science and Health:

Man is not a pendulum, swinging between evil and good, joy and sorrow, sickness and health, life and death (p. 246)

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