In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of this magazine, tells us clearly: “The intercommunication is always from God to His idea, man” (p. 284). This means that God speaks to each one of us, individually directing and guiding us in the right way. There was a time when I taught an evening college graduate course to prospective secondary education teachers on behavior in the classroom. This is one of the tougher challenges new teachers face. I had to rely completely on the truth of Eddy’s statement in order to heal what appeared a very divisive classroom situation.
After a long day of work for some of the students, our class met in the evening for four-and-a-half hours. There seemed some very difficult dynamics in the class. The students were tired, and enthusiasm lagged. They appeared not to have much in common with each other or with me. A group of students formed a clique, separated themselves from the rest of the class, and talked together, ignoring much of our class discussion. Another group of diversely constituted students united on a major project, but appeared unable to get along with each other. Lack of trust and disrespect seemed continually at issue in the classroom.
I worked prayerfully to understand that there was one Mind, God, inclusively governing and communicating to all in the class and coupled that with mentally acknowledging that “God is love” (I John 4:8). I silently affirmed that all in the class were the image of God, divine Love; all were God’s ideas (see Genesis 1:26). I held to the fact that these men and women were one with their Father-Mother God.
It was a learning experience for me. I had to stand firmly for class rules, but I also prayed consistently. Before every class, on the way to the university I prayed to know that since God had placed me there, She would supply the wisdom to carry out the job. Before I entered the classroom each evening, I briefly stopped at the door and prayed to know that the Christ, the Truth that Christ Jesus represented and proved in his life, was already there before me; and I acknowledged that the Mind that was in Christ was present and being expressed in each of us. I relied on the fact that we were all being “taught of God” (see John 6:45).
Spiritual receptivity is normal and natural to us as God’s reflection.
I also made an effort to keep mentally alert as incidents came up. I’d remind myself that there couldn’t be a division between these students and me when all of us were one with our Father-Mother God. I made sure I wasn’t duped into identifying certain students as immature or inconsiderate. Countering the suggestion that there could be a cultural divide between students, I’d prayerfully affirm that God’s family all expressed the one Mind and therefore each one there could be receptive to the others.
At one point, I remembered that Mrs. Eddy tells us, “Break up cliques, level wealth with honesty, let worth be judged according to wisdom, and we get better views of humanity” (Science and Health, p. 239). It was logical to practice what I was reading, so I literally broke up the clique in the first group, and placed one student in another group. This was not a popular change, but it was effective, as the student I had moved noticeably changed from displaying belligerence to becoming a leader in class, separating herself from the pack, working with me, and helping her new group of fellow students. This focused both groups, and I expressed appreciation for her good work; my comments were reciprocated in an email from her expressing gratitude for the class and our work together.
It was also necessary for me to overcome my fear of hostility and obstructive behavior. The remedy was to acknowledge that spiritual receptivity is normal and natural to us as God’s reflection. It helped the students let go of resistance when I explained that most jobs require cooperatively working together. I drew parallels for veterans to military team building.
Finally, each step I took included my gratitude, both expressed inwardly as thanks to my Father-Mother God for the truths I was working with, and to the students in the class. It became evident that real team building was going on. Students began to praise each other more, and evidenced unity and harmony in working together and in their newfound respect for the class. Though gradual, the entire class exhibited increasingly more skill in listening and in working together.
When we encounter situations that suggest there are different minds working as opposing forces, ones that present a scenario that is coldly indifferent, or that tries to overtly or subtly undermine useful, cooperative behavior, there is an answer. We can identify men, women, and children as expressing only God’s nature, having the identity which comes from God, Truth. Seen in this light, it’s natural for them to be complete, thoughtful, and considerate. We are all inclusively welcomed in the kingdom of heaven right here and now, and God appreciates, accepts, and receives His or Her own—us!
