Article April 9, 1938 Issue

Championships

[Written Especially for Young People]

LILLIAN CURRY RIGG

Life for young people today, both in and out of school, is colorful with accounts of the winning of various contests. Championships seem to be the thing, whether individual or in groups. It may be an athletic or forensic group victory or an individual attainment. And so much thought is given to these humanly prescribed goals that it is little wonder that great spiritual goals often seem unimportant to youth.

A young lad attending high school came home one evening very much out of tune with the harmony expressed there. He was irritated and unpleasant. His mother, a wise student of Christian Science, questioned him lovingly. Although the boy was accustomed to confide in his mother, he was reluctant to do so this time. But finally he told her that he felt he was a failure. Here he was, he said, in his third year in high school, and he hadn't won a championship in any activity. Nor had any team of which he had been a member won a championship. He had no medals, no newspaper accounts of achievement, and in consequence he had received no special recognition from his fellow students.

The mother listened thoughtfully. She knew that her son was typical of a large number of young people today who have become blinded to real values by the glamor of shiny medals and much praise. Also, she knew that not all championships are won through fine qualities. Gratefully she recalled how together they had battled against such foes as quick temper, dishonesty, and intemperance, and with the help of Christian Science had won the victory over them.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Championships

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access