Article January 11, 2010 Issue

STRETCHED TO MY INFINITE CAPACITY

Adapted from an interview on Sentinel Radio.

BY DIANE SHETH

There is a way out of "burnout," stress on the job, and stress in our lives. And the way is through turning to God and discovering how much God loves each one of us, supports us in our journey, and helps us overcome challenges, whatever they may be.

Some time ago, while I was a single mother, I worked as a purchasing agent for a manufacturing company. With the demands of my job—I received upward of 50 phone calls per day—I really felt stressed and burned out every day. My routine included driving during rush hour, picking up my child from a baby sitter, feeling anxiety about my job, and hoping that I could be the best, most loving and patient mom while sticking to a tight schedule. I wondered when I'd be able to catch up and have what I considered a normal life. In addition, I began to develop stomach pains and had to deal with fears about this physical ailment.

When one is immersed in challenging situations like this, it's tempting to see oneself as bogged down in a human dilemma, with a yearning to escape from it, or at least improve upon it. But as a student of Christian Science, I understood that I had to look higher than the human sense of things; I had to look to God, to spiritual reality—the way God sees things—to find my solution. The Psalmist said, "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Ps. 61:2). I understood that with God there was no fear or anxiety, no lack of balance. Instead, God was my source of love, strength, and daily renewal. And I strove to understand more of this divine balance and sustaining power.