Article May 7, 1979 Issue

Expressing God or impressing people?

Scheherezade Issari

Have you ever thought of approaching exams from this standpoint: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"?II Tim. 2:15; Many students associate exam time with deep anxiety, a lot of fear, and tense competition. It doesn't have to be that way. Preparing for and taking exams can be a time of peace—even happiness and real accomplishment. The Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings clearly show man's indissoluble unity with God. The realization that man is God's reflection, His cherished child, gives us a heritage of dominion over all rightful activity—whether that activity includes schoolwork, completing business transactions, or running a home and raising a family.

Anyone can claim divine authority over all he does by turning to God, asking and listening for His ever-present guidance and direction. When prayer is humble and sincere, step-by-step answers to each and every problem emerge. Mrs. Eddy states, "When a hungry heart petitions the divine Father-Mother God for bread, it is not given a stone,—but more grace, obedience, and love."Miscellaneous Writings, p. 127; True humility—the acknowledgement that divine Mind is the only Mind—brings true dominion.

Not long ago an incident clearly proved this to me. During one of my first weeks in graduate school I was stunned by a low grade on an exam. This came as a real shock because during my undergraduate days I had done very well academically. After class a friend I had studied with showed me her high grade and, surprised at my low one, said, "I don't understand why you blew the exam. You seemed to know the material. Maybe you just don't have a mind for economics." Her comment took me by surprise. As a Christian Scientist I refused to accept a limited picture of man; I didn't see God's man as lacking, least of all in intelligence. During my Sunday School days I had learned that a synonym for God is Mind, the divine Mind Paul referred to when he said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."Phil. 2:5; In her book Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives this spiritual interpretation of Mind: "The only I, or Us; the only Spirit, Soul, divine Principle, substance, Life, Truth, Love; the one God; not that which is in man, but the divine Principle, or God, of whom man is the full and perfect expression; Deity, which outlines but is not outlined."Science and Health, p. 591; This Mind, I knew, was eternally providing me with all the ability to perceive and understand that I needed.

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