Article April 18, 1988 Issue

Spiritual preparation for an exam

A comprehensive teachers' examination may not seem much of a time for rejoicing. But an exploration of the real source of intelligence puts exams in a wholly new light.

Roberta Ann Smith

When I got out of college I found that in order to teach in the area I had just moved to I had to take a state test. It was rumored that 60 percent of those taking the test would fail on their first try. There were many who were resentful and angry about this requirement; many were afraid of the test and questioned its validity to measure teaching ability.

In the past I would have classified myself in the 60 percent who were supposed to fail. When I was in high school I never did well on tests. In college I made some improvement but not without struggle. This time, however, I learned more than just the material on the exam. Along with studying mathematics and English, the subjects on the test, I studied the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, to gain a clearer understanding of God and my relationship to Him. I have found that a study of the Bible in the light of what Christian Science teaches brings preconceived and limiting notions of God and man in for a complete overhaul. We find that God isn't a punishing, vengeful God, as He's so often pictured, or a far-off, uncaring God, either. He's tender, loving, always present with us.

Christian Science shows that seeing God as a punishing tyrant gives us a wrong concept not only of God but of ourselves also. Both must be changed. As His child, His image and likeness, our real nature is spiritual. In fact, what God creates reflects and expresses God, including His wisdom and intelligence. Man's relation to God is unbroken and unflawed, the relation of effect to cause.

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