The lessons learned in the Christian Science Sunday School were especially useful to me during my undergraduate and graduate college work. As one way of expressing gratitude for my Sunday School training, I wish to relate two experiences in which I applied the lessons learned in Sunday School to the lessons I was preparing in college.

The final examination for one of my graduate courses was scheduled at what I thought was the worst time imaginable. Resentment of this fact grew, and I found it impossible to prepare for the examination except by humanly forcing myself to do so. Of course this was not easy, and my accomplishments were nil.

I began to pray for a right understanding of my responsibility to this examination. But this sense of human force was still very much with me. It tried to argue the manner in which I should pray. It manifested in irritation, and the words of Hymn No. 18 in the Christian Science Hymnal kept interrupting the train of thought I was trying to develop about the rightness and completeness of all God-directed activities and the presence, always and only, of the one Mind, which controls and directs all thought and intelligence. The first line of the hymn, "Be firm and be faithful; desert not the right," just did not apply to this situation as far as I could see.

Soon I relaxed, realizing that this message was so persistent that it must contain the healing thought needed to eliminate the resentment I felt. The healing message unfolded as follows: Be firm in your understanding of yourself as the child of God and as the reflection of the one Mind. Be faithful in your expression of this fact. Do not for one instant slip from the high standards of accomplishment that are expressed by every child of God. Desert not the right to let the results of your understanding of yourself as the reflection of God, Mind, shine at all times and for all persons.

My thinking was instantly clear and peaceful. Resentment vanished. Taking the test was fun. My test grade was excellent.

At the end of my graduate studies I had another opportunity to prove the perfect results gained from reliance on God. I was required to take a comprehensive examination in my major area and in my field of specialization. These tests were given three times a year, and over the previous several years no one had passed both parts of the examination at the first attempt. I was the only one in the group taking the course of review for this particular examination who was taking it for the first time. For six weeks my husband and I gave daily prayerful thought to the oneness and allness of Mind. We knew that I was not limited in any intelligence, understanding, or ability needed to be successful in this examination. We reasoned that I was not affected and not jeopardized by the experiences of others in previous exams. As my sense of peace and assurance toward the exams strengthened, it was noticed by my classmates. They expressed appreciation of the calmness which I radiated. I am happy to say that I passed both parts of the examination on the first try.

How grateful I am for proofs of the practicality of Christian Science and for the angel messages supplied to us by God to meet our needs! How grateful I am for the teaching given in the Sunday Schools! How grateful I am for the clearer understanding of God, of Christ Jesus, of Christian Science, and of Mrs. Eddy that is gained in class instruction! How grateful I am to share proof of the practicality of Christian Science!

(Mrs.) Mary Helen Black, Birmingham, Michigan