Jeanette Smith, San Clemente, California, US—This is my second year speaking at colleges and universities as a member of The Christian Science Board of Lectureship. My first year I went to schools in Ohio and Kentucky, at both large and small campuses. That whole year was an astounding experience. I gave talks on Christian Science at student spirituality fairs, and we also set up tables to make Science and Health available in open-access forums.
This year I'm noticing a difference in the lack of self-consciousness when students hear or use the word Spirituality. It's not in any way off-putting to them. Instead, they immediately recognize spirituality as something they're interested in. And they're glad to have Science and Health. When we introduce ourselves and talk with students, we aren't in a bookselling mode, but rather in an idea-sharing mode. Once students learn that this book is about healing—about universal laws of God—they say, "I want this book!" There is just no barrier students' hearts this book.
I definitely see a shift going on. I see an earnestness in these students about the how-to of healing. They're asking, "Where do I start in studying this book?" Some will say, "If I'm sharing this book with someone who has an immediate need, where do I tell them to start?" I wouldn't describe it as excitement as much as a sense of urgency, an immediate recognition that these ideas, this healing method, is a viable solution, something worth looking into. This year, seeing and hearing these students' enthusiasm and interest was a watershed experience for me.
