by Casey Fedde
Fly in sixteen college-aged Christian Scientists from around the world to Boston for internships, throw them into a few different apartments, add food, and you will get lots of interesting conversations. Issues such as gun control, abortion, homosexuality, youth involvement in the Church, and how you like your eggs cooked—topics ranging wide in seriousness and importance—have been buzzing throughout the intern apartments.
I’ve been watching as each of us share something about our backgrounds and opinions. How can topics that are usually inseparable from heated emotions like anger and frustration, be discussed without catastrophe? The opinions shared often clash, but nevertheless, I’ve been amazed at how each remark is delivered lovingly. It really seems like everyone just wants to inform, help the others learn, and open eyes to a new perspective. We are all “in the bonds of love and perfectness, into one grand family of Christ’s followers” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 13).
It’s been comforting to recognize my fellow interns as family. It’s made me feel at home to know that my roommates and other interns are there to greet me with a smile and a friendly “hello.” Being away from my family for these few weeks has shown me that I can do the things that I set out to do. And I can do these things with God’s unconditional love and support.
Taking God’s hand, I have explored the streets of Boston and have enjoyed many wonderful moments walking, talking, and shopping—three of my favorite things to do—with my fellow interns.
Feeding the multitudes—that is, interns—has led to the smell of pounds of taco meat wafting through the apartment building. And we’ve had smoke detectors wail over smoky pancakes. Despite the smoke incident—nobody was harmed and sadly no hot, single firefighters came to rescue us—we have shared smiled and laughs.
Turning off a movie at night, scraping the last remains of brownies off the pan, and nestling into bed, I remember how grateful I am to work and live in an environment steaming (and smoking) with love. And every morning, a hymn from The Christian Science Hymnal (No. 53) comes to mind when I leave the front gate of my apartment:
Everlasting arms of Love
Are beneath, around, above;
God it is who bears us on,
His the arm we lean upon.
I look forward to each morning, partly because it’s an excuse to sing a favorite song, but mostly because I am ready to explore and learn more in this great Northeast city—leaning on God every step of the way.
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Casey … your mom told me you were writing about your summer internship so naturally I had to find it!! I now can read all about your adventures until you come back and we get to do a family bonding dinner at Sweet Tomatoes! I know you will be having a great time with your mom and Cory when they visit! Be sure and take the ferry at the end of the history walk!! It is a wonderful end to the longest 3 miles you will have ever walked. Best part is you arrive directly in front of Legal Seafood!! Delicious! Big hugs!!!
What a great example you guys are to the world — a diverse group that gets along despite differing opinions.
I am so proud of you and all the wonderful things you are learning and sharing with your new friends/family. The hymn you mentioned is one of my favorites also. Looking forward all your other writings and experiences.
I really like what you wrote Casey. You make things so clear to me.