Throughout the twentieth century there have been "wars and rumours of wars"—from border skirmishes to revolutions to world wars. And even when one's own country has not been engaged in a conflict, still at almost any time during our era armies have been fighting somewhere on planet earth. For example, typical of recent years was 1983, which may have seemed to many a relatively peaceful year. Yet one study revealed that of the world's one hundred sixty-four nations, at least forty-five were involved in armed conflicts "with over 4 million soldiers directly engaged in combat." The Boston Herald, March 22, 1983.
It is not surprising that people may feel weighed down with uncertainty. And on the other hand, some are lulled into a false sense of security, thinking there is little need for concern merely because their own nation is not currently at war. In either case, the result is a tendency to do nothing when, in fact, there is so much to be done.
Christian Science gives us a better way to think and a truly potent course of action. For one thing, Christian Science clearly indicates the rightness and effectiveness of taking individual responsibility whenever there is a need for healing. This is true whether the need is for overcoming disease or sin in one's immediate experience or for dealing with broader issues in one's church, community, nation, or the world at large.
