Article August 27, 1979 Issue

Youth's SOS—healing criminality in the young

GODFREY JOHN

In one of the log cabins of a boys' summer camp, a young counselor surprises two twelve-year-olds quarreling violently. As he steps between them, one of the boys turns on him, unsheathes a hand-knife, and raises it above his head. The counselor stands motionless, his eyes on his assailant. No word is spoken. Suddenly the boy throws down the knife and collapses in tears.

What has happened?

For several weeks the young counselor had worked with great patience to remedy the stubbornness, defiance, and antisocial behavior shown by this boy. He had met with resistance all along the line. Then one day, after a thoughtful discussion with an experienced Christian Scientist who happened to be giving a talk at the camp, the counselor began to see that it is only hostility that reacts to hostility. By the same token he learned that it takes a clear recognition of the spiritual good present in one's own consciousness to discern the presence of that good in someone else.

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