Six years ago I was teaching in a suburban junior high school of about thirteen hundred students. To my dismay I was unsatisfied with my job, my students, the world, and myself. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of inharmony in my daily life.
I worked in an overcrowded classroom with a number of juvenile delinquents. Many of the students indulged in vandalism, smoking, drinking, drugs, and theft. My ideal was to conduct every class on the basis of the Golden Rule (see Matt. 7:12). However, this attitude seemed to annoy many of the students, and several of them threatened me and my property from time to time.
In addition to the feeling of unrest, I was not utilizing my talent to its fullest. My college degree was that of a double major, and I was licensed to teach much more than my duties allowed. I decided to earn a master's degree so that I could be delivered from this unhappy situation by teaching college. While still teaching during the day I enrolled in graduate school and attended classes at night.
Then I began to realize that the whole inharmonious problem was included in my thought—there was nothing I needed to get out of or away from but false concepts. At first this wasn't very easy to accept. However, it was apparent that wholehearted honesty was needed to straighten out my thought and realize a healing. The Christian Science practitioner who was helping me kept reminding me that the students were God's children, perfect expressions of His love. They didn't have a mind separate from God but were of one Mind, divine Principle. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy states (p. 470): "The children of God have but one Mind. How can good lapse into evil, when God, the Mind of man, never sins?"
My consistent prayer was effective in helping rid my thought of all that was unlike God, perfect Principle. Through my study of Christian Science I learned that God did not create a man to lie, cheat, steal, and hate. I had to stop attaching false traits to the students. Mrs. Eddy asks the questions: "Who is thine enemy that thou shouldst love him? Is it a creature or a thing outside thine own creation?" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 8.) Through this lesson I began to express more of my God-given identity. I knew that I was a reflection of perfect Principle, Love.
As the days went by I was more loving, patient, and felt true loyalty in my present position. During times of trouble I rejoiced in having the opportunity to prove God's allness and goodness. The teen-agers were receptive, and it was a pleasure to watch scientific prayer work. Love, friendship, and kindness became more apparent in our classroom. Gratitude was an important step toward healing. I declared that good is, and I was specific in naming all the good in the day. It was an awakening to open my thought to all the good enveloping my consciousness. I even felt I could remain in this school indefinitely!
Four months after the healing was realized, arrangements were made for my employment the following September at a private school to which I had made application earlier. That was four years ago. I am grateful I earned the higher degree to better equip me in my new position. Here I am utilizing my state certification to its fullest extent. Jesus said (Matt. 6:33), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." My work now encompasses preschool through middle school. We have challenges to meet here, too, and now I know I have the spiritual tools to work with.
From this experience I have learned that when one is willing to let perfect Principle, God, lead the way, there will be a way, but true humility is required. Truth and Love are unfolding good for each and every one of us every moment.
I have been healed of a severe case of ivy poisoning in a matter of hours, and I had an instantaneous healing of a high fever and delirium.
I am indeed grateful to God for Mrs. Eddy and for her discovery of the truth of being, which encompasses all of mankind. I am also very grateful for class instruction in Christian Science.
Manchester, Missouri
