by Roger Gordon
“Man! I only got a 1450 on my SAT’s! I have to take them over again!”
I heard this type of remark from friends and fellow students all the time in high school. My high school was rated one of the best public schools in the country, and my thinking was challenged more in some of my high school classes than in some college classes I took. Unlike many people, I loved my high school experience and I will always be grateful for it. But it did have its drawbacks. Not only were the students I went to school with incredibly bright, but my high school was minutes away from the prestigious Stanford University, and I sometimes felt stuck in a sea of intellectual superiority.
by Mark Swinney
Sometimes people say stuff like this to me, “The more that I learn about God’s goodness, the worse I feel about myself. I’m learning more and more all the time about God and that’s great. It’s just that the more I learn about what’s right and good, the more I’m reminded of what’s wrong with me. Sure, I know that God sees me as perfect and everything, but how can I be happy when I’m constantly seeing and feeling my faults?”
by Inge Schmidt
Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll probably confirm that clothing and fashion are not high on my list of priorities. If it’s comfortable and looks reasonably decent, I’ll wear it for years.
But after Christmastime, thanks to a few generous relatives, I found myself with some money to spend, and I was actually looking forward to an afternoon of shopping. Christmas had been wonderful; lots of time with family and friends, tons of laughter, and a fair amount of time spent reflecting on a year of significant spiritual growth. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the spiritual gifts and goodness I had received. Even the idea of an over-crowded, post-Christmas rush shopping mall, usually one of my least favorite places, couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Or so I thought.
by Evan Mehlenbacher
Does a fast food cashier earning $14,000 a year have as much worth as a software programmer earning $150,000? In light of the huge disparities that exist between high and low earners these days, it’s a healthy question to ask. When pressed, most people would agree that the fast food worker and the programmer are equally important human beings, but sometimes we lose sight of this basic premise.
I believe the worth of a person can’t be measured materially, in terms of salary, position or prestige. It’s spirituality lived and expressed that gives life meaning and purpose. And any of us can have a spiritually rich life regardless of how much money we earn.
by Elaine Follis
It’s not what you chew, but what you chew over in your thought, that packs on pounds. This is not a novel insight; “Dr. Phil” would probably say the same thing. But I’ve proved it from the standpoint of Christian Science, and that moves the discussion to a whole new level.
It all depends on where you start. If you start with a material body, believe me, you will never be satisfied. I experienced a significant weight loss in the 1980’s. Before the loss, people commented on my fat thighs. Afterwards they-in some cases the very same individuals-asked whether I was anorexic. I mean, give me a break! “People” are never going to be satisfied; and if you take what they say as gospel, neither are you.
by Melissa Konetchy
“Be soft with yourself.” The idea spoke to me, suddenly, and carried with it profound meaning. Don’t be so hard on yourself: be kind and gentle. It had never occurred to me that I didn’t love myself, but I discovered that I didn’t. But then as I set about to understand this statement, wonderful things began to happen. I started to learn what beauty is really about.
Let me back up a bit. By the time I reached college, I was just coming to terms with the idea that I had a feminine side. My grooming and dressing habits had improved, and for the first time ever, boys seemed to notice my existence. Around the same time, I noticed that my weight was fluctuating every few months. This initially led to some weight gain, then some severe weight loss, and finally weight re-gain.
by Evan Mehlenbacher
Have you heard the recent news about gaining weight? Researchers claim that obesity is contagious!
Their report states that it matters who your friends are, explaining that people gain weight or slim down according to the girth of neighbor and relatives they associate with closest. “Both obesity and thinness are socially contagious,” says James Fowler, co-author of the study funded by the National Institute on Aging, and recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The report concludes that we tend to adjust to the size of people we are close to. If our best friends are heavier, we start to justify in our own mind going up a couple of sizes. If a person with a strong influence over us loses weight, we might decide to do the same, and slim down.
While trying to figure out what to make of the report, I reasoned the conclusions out from a Christian Science perspective.
