Article January 29, 2007 Issue

THE CONFLICT ENDED

BY ALEX COOK

JESUS TAUGHT that God's love unites all people in one family—a family of His tender creating. But how can we give form to that ideal and truly feel the brother-and sisterhood that are natural to us because God made us?

I'd always felt a spiritual connection with others and wanted to develop and share it. Then a few years ago I saw the opportunity to start a youth program to paint murals on city buildings. While I loved painting, I didn't feel particularly well versed in, or adept at, community organization. So I prayed that the love I felt would expand and fill every aspect of the work, including initial contacts, planning meetings, and contract negotiations, as well as the actual mural painting. I knew I must let God, who is Love itself, direct me to be open-minded and fearless. And I strove to accept that it was not my personal skill or strength that would make this project a success; it was, rather, the purity of my love for the community. Work done out of honest love could not fail (see Science and Health, p. 58). In fact, from the outset, I agreed with God (and myself) that I could not fail—and that I would be willing to do whatever was needed, since my goal remained that of giving productive form to that natural harmony among neighbors.