Article June 2, 1951 Issue

A VACATION DISCOVERY

[Of Special Interest to Young People]

JOANNA FRESHWATER

When Nancy was sixteen she went away to camp for the first time. Although she packed her Bible, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and the Christian Science Quarterly, she secretly determined to leave them in her suitcase. A vacation from Sunday School and from all study and prayer, she thought, was what she wanted.

After a long train trip she arrived at camp in the early evening. The sky was dark with storm clouds, a chill wind blew in from the ocean, and thunder rumbled and echoed in the hills. The other girls, all strangers, were so busy getting their tents in shape and their belongings arranged that they paid no attention to her. Nancy struggled alone with the mattress which a counselor had pointed out as hers, changed smart new traveling clothes for the camp uniform, and, still unnoticed, sat down on her cot. She was suddenly homesick, afraid that in a minute she would begin to cry.

Then Nancy remembered the Bible and Science and Health in her suitcase. Seeking comfort, she took them out and opened the Bible. Her glance fell upon the verse in Psalms (27:10), "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." Why, God was taking care of her! Even though she was away from her family, she was here and now in the presence of her Father-Mother, Love, as she had always been. Newly confident of God's enfolding care, she stopped pitying herself because no one came to her and began to look for ways to help her tentmates. They answered by showing friendliness and helpfulness to her. And by bedtime she felt as though she had known and loved these girls for a long time.

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