I absolutely love dogs. I know God gave man dominion “over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen 1: 26), but that doesn’t mean other creatures aren’t cared for by God. It is as much in their nature—as it is in ours—to express God’s great qualities, since He created them, too. So I had to disagree when I heard today that some people believe pets can’t be healed because they are lesser ideas of God. (more…)

I’ve been married for a little more than a year now and I have to say, it’s awesome!

As much as I loved the dress I wore at the wedding, as well as the flowers, the food, and all the various details of that one day, those things are a teeny drop in a big bucket when when it comes to making marriage awesome day in and day out. (more…)

When I was a senior in high school, I had the opportunity to do a three week independent project of my choice. For my project, I decided to study the Alaska native culture in depth by living and working with people from the Aleut heritage group on St. George Island, Alaska. Located above the Aleutian chain in the middle of the Bering Sea, St. George Island is secluded, predominantly indigenous, and has what some would consider minimum contact with the outside world. That being said, by doing this project I was to go completely outside of my comfort zone and leave behind everything that was familiar to me. (more…)

Sex scandals and extramarital affairs seem to fill the news these days. The most recent debacle with Tiger Woods got me thinking about a strange dichotomy in today’s society. From pop-culture to sex education classes, the idea that we are sexual beings that must regularly gratify ourselves with physical pleasures is promoted constantly—and enthusiastically. So much flash and urgency surrounds the topic. Children are experimenting with sex and sexuality at younger ages. And the idea of fidelity of any kind has become perceptually more of a fairytale than a reality. (more…)

My family usually does fun, corny Christmas cards in which all of the (now grown-up) kids are in costume and smiling under a slew of puns about the holidays and the New Year. This year’s card, while still fun and corny, has got a different feel to it. I can’t say too much – or it’ll ruin the surprise for everybody – but the tone is a little more sincere. (more…)

by Inge Schmidt

What did you lose when you found out that Santa Claus wasn’t what you’d always believed? Recently, that question popped into my head while I was driving around town one day. I have to admit it caught me by surprise. But I knew right away that I hadn’t lost anything. The gifts had always been there and they were still going to come; I had just learned where they came from. Maybe that stream of consciousness is evidence of precisely how random my thoughts can be on a day-to-day basis, but I learned a spiritual lesson from it.

(more…)

At summer camp where I was a counselor, at least one night a week I would lie on the tennis courts and stare up into the limitless Maine sky to search for shooting stars—and just reflect.

I clearly remember coming back to camp late one night a few years ago, still wide awake after a rewarding day off. I ran back to my “cubie” (dressing room) to put my stuff down and grab my headlamp. My co-counselor was still up, so I grabbed her, and we walked to the tennis courts. As we lay on our backs gazing into the star-filled night, we began a conversation about companionship, my overwhelming fear about post-college life, and the shaky feelings I had about who I was trying to be. (more…)

Joe - Adapted from the Christian Science Sentinel, June 23, 2008, and posted on tmcyouth.com

Last year my church helped a family in Mexico. I saw how happy and loving the family was as we built them a little house in Tijuana. The Christian Science Society I attend was a sponsor for this mission trip.

When we got to the building site high on a hill in Mexico overlooking California, I met the youngest member of the family, Isaac. He calls himself Zak. I asked him what he got for Christmas. He said, “Nothing, because my parents don’t have any money.” And so I felt like that was why we were there, so that we could build a house for him and his family for Christmas. It was our Christmas present to them.
(more…)

Anna - Christian Science Sentinel, Dec. 3, 2007

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved snakes. When I was four, a woman in front of us in a pet store check-out line was carrying a huge snake. I started petting it because it seemed to like me.

The woman turned and started to tell my mom to keep away because the snake supposedly didn’t like strangers. When she saw that her snake was enjoying my attention, she was speechless. After that experience, I began to want a snake of my own. To me, there is something fascinating about them. I think they are very beautiful, graceful, and loving. I’ve learned in Christian Science that everything God creates expresses good and beautiful qualities.

(more…)

by Meg Dendler

I’ve grown rather accustomed to mentally tuning out the music my daughters play, often at competing volume levels, from their respective bedrooms. But one afternoon as we drove in the car a favorite of my older daughter’s came on and I really started listening to the words. What I heard from the gravely voice of rock band Nickelback’s lead singer shocked me, but in a good way for once. He sang:

(more…)