Some college freshmen in a Christian Science Sunday School class were facing their first period of academic finals. Their tenseness showed plainly that an apparent case of "college jitters" needed to be healed. The subject of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly that day was "Truth," and the teacher recognized her opportunity of using the Lesson to correct the girls' thinking.

Opening "Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy to page 506, one of the pupils read, "Understanding is a quality of God, a quality which separates Christian Science from supposition and makes Truth final."

Through questions and answers it was brought out that Truth is God and man is the image and likeness of God. Then it was seen that man must necessarily possess by reflection the qualities of God, including understanding; so each one, as God's likeness, must possess understanding. This simple logic eliminated the fear of failure, for where there is understanding, there can be no failure, It was brought out also that the Bible and Christian Science teach that God is All. Then God must include man and all that concerns him, for there cannot be All and something else.

The discussion continued, showing that understanding is a quality of Mind, the all-knowing, infinite intelligence. It was pointed out that as each girl understood man to be Mind's expression, she would express intelligence in answering any question put to her. Since ignorance is only a belief in the absence of intelligence, the fear of ignorance fades into nothingness in Truth's presence, just as a mistake in mathematics disappears in the presence of a correct solution. The girls acknowledged that if they believed in the reality of ignorance or in their incapacity to master a subject, such belief would befog clear understanding and hinder their progress. Mrs. Eddy likens such a state of thought to walking in darkness on the edge of a precipice where one's steps are less firm because of fear, thus proving such hindrance to be wholly mental (Science and Health, p. 374).

Principle is another name for God and one which indicates the ever-present, all-powerful government or law of good. References in the Bible to the supremacy and permanency of God's law were pointed out, and special attention was given to the nineteenth Psalm, which contains these promises (verses 7–9): "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.... The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.... The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

A better understanding of divine law dispelled the fear of injustice in grades. In other words, it took away the sense of false personality regarding professors and pupils and revealed man as reflecting the qualities of Principle, including integrity, justice, and impartiality.

"It seems very simple here." one girl said, "but on campus I hear expressions of fear and dread all around me. How can I meet those?"

Again they turned to Science and Health and read (p. 442), "Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake." If students accept suggestions of dread and fear, difficult assignments, and unjust criticism as realities, they are not reflecting Spirit, God, and are not using the power of God that develops their latent abilities and reveals the ever-presence of spiritual understanding.

Divine Love was the next synonym for God they discussed, and it was seen that gratitude and unselfed love go hand in hand. A deeper sense of gratitude was awakened for the privilege of attending college. And ways of expressing unselfed love were mentioned, such as giving encouragement and assurance to some disheartened fellow student by kindly acts or counsel and showing thoughtful consideration to teachers, students, and others in their houses or dormitories.

Because Life, God, includes activity, understanding as a quality of Life must be active. The girls saw that as they understood this spiritual activity they would manifest it in proper study of assignments throughout the term. But, more than that, they would be actively and constantly aware of God's omnipresence and omniscience, which could deliver them not only from fear of finals, but from all other claims, such as lack of time or funds, lack of opportunity or of right companionship, and lack of health.

Each semester these truths are reviewed and enlarged upon by this class, and many evidences of calm assurance, dominion, and good grades have resulted.

One girl relates this experience. In an education course she had to report on the theories of two different authorities on the same subject. "I couldn't think of one single subject they had both discussed," she said, "and since this was the main question of the final, it looked bad for me. After about half the period had gone by, I turned wholeheartedly to God, seeking my answer where I should have sought it in the first place. Then Mrs. Eddy's statement came to me from Science and Health (p. 506), 'Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose ma appear.' Like a light the subject I needed came to me, and I finished my final in plenty of time. The grade I received was better than any other I'd had in any of my work in that course during the entire term."

Another member of the class said she walked away from a group of fearful girls and remembered to be a law unto herself. At once she realized that a final isn't something to dread, but only an opportunity to prove what one knows about God. She said: "As I entered the classroom, it was very clear to me that as God's child I reflected Mind, but that I was not the only one reflecting Mind. I knew we all were really the children of God and this is the truth that is final. Not only did I get a good grade in that course, but the class average was unusually high."

When Moses feared that because he was slow of speech he would not know what to say, it is recorded that God said to him (Ex. 4:11, 12): "Who hath made man's mouth? ... have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."

When students once understand the unity of their true selfhood with the all-knowing Mind, the result is made manifest in a good grade and a joyous participation in tests of their intelligence.