What I remember about seventh grade is finding myself in a new school about five times as big as I’d ever known—I was stumped by algebra, and the girl who wanted to help me get through that class was my only friend. Neither of us were cool, and she didn’t care, but I longed to be accepted by the in-crowd. But every attempt to connect with them ended up in some awful embarrassment. It was a painful time of learning how to make friends and how to be a friend.
I watched a Dr. Phil show on Girl World yesterday—the world where girls bully each other mercilessly. It was eye opening and scary. Dr. Phil said that a recent survey of sixth- and seventh-grade girls showed that almost one in three admitted to hitting someone as a form of bullying. And that doesn’t even count verbal abuse and cyber bullying. That’s a crazy percentage, and frankly, don’t you think that one abused kid is too much?
No doubt about it, the show had some good ideas on how to deal with bullying. They talked about things like talking to your parents, teachers, or other school authorities if you’re being mistreated at school. They talked about how important self-esteem is and what you can do to protect yours.
by Keith Wommack
A story from the book of Genesis tells of Jacob’s long night. In part, it says, “Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. … And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. …And he blessed him there.” Science and Health explains, “Jacob was alone, wrestling with error, — struggling with a mortal sense of life….”
Jacob’s night reminds me of one of mine. I’d been in the Christian Science healing ministry for five years and was living near a university in a split-level house. My bedroom was on the second story. It had eight floor-to-ceiling windows. It was peaceful—until a fraternity moved into a two-story house nearby.
One night, a party started. A stereo and TV blared on a balcony. The sounds boomed into my bedroom through my closed windows. I prayed, grumbled, tossed, and turned.
Around 4 in the morning, the yelling stopped, but the stereo and TV were still booming. I had had enough. I dressed, walked to the corner, then downhill to the fraternity house, past a car with a young man asleep in the backseat, stepped over two individuals lying in the backyard, and climbed up a trellis to the second-story balcony. I turned off the stereo, unplugged the TV, picked it up, and carried it to my house. I then climbed into bed. Ah, peace and quiet!
by Joe Colliate
This past Christmas I wanted to build a house in Mexico for a poor family. Why? Because last year when I did this with my church I saw how happy and loving the family was as we built their little house in Tijuana. The Christian Science society I attend was a sponsor for this mission trip. (more…)
Jan. 21–27, 2008 “Change your thought to change your world” originally appeared in the May 2007 Journal and was titled: “Wouldn’t it be cool if…”
On Saturday, February 10, a sunny winter day in New Haven, Connecticut, the Christian Science Organization at Yale University hosted an intimate and thought-provoking regional “Global Awareness” conference for members of Christian Science Organizations (CSOs) at college and university campuses from New England. The Journal asked Yale student Inge Schmidt, an organizer of the conference and the CSO contact for the university, to share how the conference began and the events of the day.
by Melissa Konetchy
Like most North Americans, my Thanksgiving holiday was filled with fun. I enjoyed the family festivities, met some new neighbors, and really tried to show how much I care about each member of my family.
That Saturday night, I babysat for my cousin. I spent some of that time reflecting on some of my many blessings. I also prepared for teaching Sunday School the following day, and wrote my last blog installment. In short, I felt filled with inspiration and gratitude.
Jennie Patterson – The Christian Science Journal, Dec. 2006
Normally I spend Christmas at my dad’s house in Virginia, or at my mom’s in New York. But last Christmas was different. And it was the most special one I’ve had.
My mother’s friend Bonnie invited my mom, my brother, my sister, my aunt, and me, to spend my December school break in Ecuador, volunteering in a little village called Azama, located between two mountains in the Andes, just north of the capital, Quito. The area is beautiful–very green and tropical. The temperature isn’t humid, as you might think, but rather cool and refreshing.
by Bobby Whitney
Hello guys.
India has really opened many doors for me. I am starting to have guitar lessons. I was a bit wary at first because the teacher kept on saying “betta, betta.” I thought he was pressuring me to do better. I later found out that “betta” is how Indians greet men! It means “brother.” I’m learning about good communication!
My school is also performing a play called “Bugsy Malone.” It is based on one of my all time favorite movies of the same name. I’ve got quite a big part and I am very excited.
Garrett Fielding - Adapted from the Christian Science Sentinel, Oct. 9, 2007.
The bullying started with name-calling and basketball stealing on the courts at lunchtime. Then my group of fellow eighth-grade friends began picking on almost anyone from the lower grades who crossed their path.
I was disappointed my friends were making the basketball courts such a miserable place to be. And although I wasn’t participating in their bullying, I felt embarrassed to hang out with these guys. It seemed like they were copying a group of eighth graders from the year before who had also wanted to prove their “power” simply because of their age. Even though I didn’t want to lose my friends, separating myself from them for a while seemed like the right thing to do.
by Matthew Cocks
I think a lot about cities and how to make them better because I’m midway through a PhD in city planning at Liverpool University, England. Also, being a regular reader of Christian Science literature, my thought is also often focused on the Science of the Christ. With these two things mingling in my consciousness, it is inevitable that, from time to time, they bump into each other!
So how can Christian Science help us think about, and more importantly, heal cities?
Well, what are cities? Cities are big, sometimes vast, agglomerations of lives. They are places for people. Places people live, work, play, travel, learn, enjoy, endure, struggle, lose, and win. Cities contain many of the extremes of the human condition. Often chronic poverty and deprivation exist side by side with abundant wealth and well-being. (more…)
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