It Was An Exciting Time for our daughter. She was heading off to college, and there was a lot for her to do: choose her classes, find an apartment, line up a roommate. She tackled all of this with great enthusiasm. But her dad and I were concerned. Up until now, our daughter's education had taken place in a small and very sheltered environment. The large state university she would be attending couldn't be more different. We explained to our daughter—who had always been quite trusting and guileless—that it was important to be wise and alert while adjusting to this new setting. But we weren't sure she was getting the message.
For our own peace of mind, my husband and I decided to pray. In different ways over many weeks we affirmed that God, infinite Mind, gives each of His children limitless intelligence and wisdom. Everyone can hear this Mind and respond to its direction. We also thought about the fact that God is infinite Love, and we realized this meant that no one could be shut out of His care. As Mary Baker Eddy wrote, "Divine Love is your ever-present help." The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 295. We knew this had to be true not just for those who know how to exercise caution and good judgment, but also for those who are still learning those lessons.
Fall came. Our daughter went off to school. Her dad and I continued to pray regularly about her safety. A couple of months later, she told us this story. One evening, she and her roommate decided to go to some fraternity parties. They'd intended to drive home together. But as the evening progressed, my daughter got separated from her friend. When it came time to go home, she couldn't find either her roommate or the car. So she decided to walk back to their apartment.
