Every right-thinking person longs to contribute meaningfully to the good of his community, his nation, and the world. But he may be slow in getting started because he feels so woefully inadequate. "What," he may ask, "can one person do when the problems are so varied and immense?"

If one is in earnest in his desire to serve, it may be wise to pause and evaluate the viable means at hand. How can an individual do the most good? What specific knowledge and skills does one have that may be put to significant use?

Students of Christian Science should have little difficulty in answering these questions. This Science has given them a glimpse of the possibilities for good resident in human thought as it begins to understand the nature and unity of God and man. Mrs. Eddy writes: "You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duodecillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle." ^{Pulpit and Press, p. 4;}

When through the study and practice of Christian Science one learns something of the universality and omnipotence of God, divine Principle, and utilizes this knowledge in solving individual problems, he then feels sure it is just as applicable in a broader context. One gains confidence that the prayerful realization of divine Mind's infinitude and perfection can heal and harmonize problems both great and small.

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes tells us of a small city that was besieged by a great king, but in the city was "a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man." ^{Eccl. 9:15;} Wisdom is present in the consciousness of all God's ideas, and quiet, humble, unheralded prayer can help to make it manifest in world affairs, it can hold up the hands of those in positions of authority.

Mrs. Eddy urges us to "pray that the divine presence may still guide and bless our chief magistrate, those associated with his executive trust, and our national judiciary; give to our congress wisdom, and uphold our nation with the right arm of His righteousness." ^{Christian Science versus Pantheism, p. 14;} Of course, she is speaking of her native land, the United States of America, but her counsel is equally applicable to citizens of every nation. Without fanfare, in the sanctuary of his own thought, each one can make a valuable contribution to national and international sanity.

We all inhabit one planet, which, because of modern means of communication, seems smaller and smaller. Issues and events of importance tumble one upon another and come quickly to our notice through radio and television. Never was there a time when the affirmative prayers of scientific metaphysicians were more needed than now.

The error that underlies world discord is the general belief that each individual has a mind of his own, in which is often harbored selfishness, willfulness, stupidity, hate, and intolerance. Because of ignorance of the divine source of intelligence, some legislators and statesmen become tools of this false sense of mind and its negative traits. What a contribution to world harmony we can make when we recognize that all God's children, His ideas, reflect the knowing and doing of one divine Mind, infinite Love, and that nowhere in the allness of this loving Mind is there a single mental impression that can oppose or frustrate its omnipotent will! Speaking of the power of this divine influence to one of her classes, Mrs. Eddy said, "We, to-day, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 279;}

World conditions seem especially formidable because of their apparent magnitude. But when we remember that because God is omnipresent Spirit all material conditions are but dream-shadows, figments of a false sense of mind, we then can apply our knowledge of Truth to a national or international crisis as confidently as we oppose a suggestion of disease. After all, the size of an illusion is of no consequence. No matter how threatening it appears to be, it cannot impress us when we see its actual nothingness in the light of God's allness.

It was Christ Jesus' superb understanding of the spiritually scientific facts underlying creation that gave him his complete control of material conditions. This understanding evidenced the saving Christ, the true idea that constituted his real spiritual selfhood. He said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." ^{Matt. 28:20.} The Christ-idea is indeed here right now, and its healing potency just as available as in the Master's day. What a privilege is ours to apply our understanding of it to the larger problems of our day, thus becoming world citizens in the highest sense!

Alan A. Aylwin