While contributing editor Lois Rae Carlson was working on her article "Life is safe" (p. 38), she was reassured by the following news reports: Detonators were foiled on a second bombing attempt in London, all the passengers escaped from a plane that crashed in Toronto, the crew of a stranded Russian submarine was rescued, and the space shuttle Discovery returned home safely. A Christian Science practitioner and teacher in Evanston, Illinois, Lois believes that every instance of protection is evidence of a universal law of safety in action.
Max Martina, who works in California as the director of marketing for Alternative Power Generation, spends most of his time thinking about renewable energy. But he was only too happy to oblige when we asked him to share a landmark healing from his college days for our cover feature on overcoming evil. "Working on this piece helped remind me that animal magnetism isn't something to fear," Max says. "It's really just a term, not an authentic entity. And we find that, as we're proactive in meeting its suggestions head on." You can read more in "Just say no" (p. 52).
When it comes to making decisions about her three-year-old son, Val Minard knows where to turn. As a Christian Science practitioner in Collingswood, New Jersey, it's Val's practice to tune in to God's guidance—and dealing with the pressures of parenting is no exception. "It's definitely an ongoing lesson," says Val. "But looking to God as the Parent is slowly becoming second nature. Especially when I make a mistake." Val's article. "The right stuff," starts on page 56.
