6:45 a.m. Driving to school, I notice that the clouds in the eastern sky are gray, tinged with pink. I pray that the beauty in this sunrise will characterize my day. I try to embrace the school community in my thought—to see it governed, not by a human principal but by divine Principle, which is God. This unerring Principle is always just, always strong, it controls the classroom, the library, the gym, the athletic fields—the school itself. And Principle's government is perfect.
7:15 a.m. I walk through the halls on my way to the office to get my mail. Crowds of students are waiting for class to begin. I want to look at them in the light of the spiritual interpretation of children in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. Its opening sentence reads, "The spiritual thoughts and representatives of Life, Truth, and Love." Science and Health, p. 582. No matter what I see or hear around me, I want to allow spiritual truth to take precedence in my thinking, to see the reality of each individual's identity.
7:45 a.m. I'm headed for my classroom. As I go, I remind myself that God, and God alone, is in charge. It is not my responsibility, all on my own, to keep the students in line. I'm responsible for knowing, beyond doubt, that God is the only power in the classroom and that both the students and I are obedient to Him. I love knowing that each one is constantly occupied with reflecting his or her own individuality from God, expressing the distinctness of true spiritual selfhood. I try to see the students as expressions of Spirit. I affirm that they are also bright, lively reflections of Truth and Life—in other words, God. I think of God saying to them as He said to the children of Israel, "I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself." Ex. 19:4. His is the only influence that can touch them, and He shapes them according to His special purpose for each one.
