One presence, blessing us all

Bea Roegge: We have a friend with us today, Enrique Smeke. Enrique, you've lived under military governments, you've worked under military governments. What happens to people in circumstances like that? Enrique Smeke: I grew up under military government, with only a few periods of shaky democracies—they didn't last very long. You see the pervasive evidence of the military on the streets, in the schools, on television. They have the media under their control. You are led to think that this government is so powerful, has all the right answers, and that your fate is in their hands. You don't have a choice. Bea: Are you afraid? Enrique: Yes. Because you see them all the time in the streets with weapons and on trucks. We certainly have in Christian Science a place of refuge. It's not a physical hiding place. What I learned in the Christian Science Sunday School was to keep the relationship we have with God alive. We have to pray. It is in this prayer that we find refuge and comfort, acknowledging God's law as supreme, that His power is everywhere and is the real power. Also, we can mentally protest against injustice, hypocrisy, and deceit, which we know do not have their source in God. Instead we can acknowledge the relationship God, the divine Mind, and with His idea, man. "All that really exists is the divine Mind and its idea, and in this Mind the entire being is found harmonious and eternal," writes Mary Baker Eddy in Science and Health.

Bea: What's the difference between feeling safe in God, as a result of prayer, and just escapism?

Enrique: Escapism is not the right answer, because wherever you go you may carry with you the same fears. But in my case when I was working at the office I would try to find a place, a private place, to pray two or three times a day. If I had to go out and visit customers, I would carry with me some Christian Science literature, The Herald of Christian Science, or a Christian Science Sentinel. I would take every opportunity on the subway, on the bus, or while taking a break, to study and

Bea: You had to keep working at it all the time, then?

Enrique: Well, to protect myself.

Bea: The atmosphere was so oppressive? Is that what you are saying?

Enrique: Yes. Certain times more than others. Because it isn't only what you see but what you hear. Nobody sees it, but you hear about people that disappear, people that were killed, or that their houses were stormed by the military and someone was taken from the again. It never touched my family or any of my relatives.

Bea: It could keep you praying consistently if you had that environment around. I've seen it on newscasts and maybe in movies but never actually experienced that gripping sense of not being free, of somebody looking over your shoulder—a fear that you might get called up for something that you didn't do wrong. You were caught in a mob that was rioting one time, and had a lot of protection. Could you tell about this?

Enrique: I went to visit some friends in a neighboring country, and the last day, the day I was supposed to fly back to my country, they took me on a ride, the host and his young twin daughters. They were about ten years old. We went out to see some historic places. When we were in the car coming back to the downtown area, we started seeing groups of demonstrators going toward downtown. My friend told me, "Why don't you take the girls home, and I'll try to find a place to park the car." I only had a couple of blocks to go. I held the girls by their hands and we started walking. As we walked, I saw a large group of people running our way, and behind them were the police with big sticks. I had to find a place soon. In the corner of my eye I could see a door open, which happened to be a shoe repair shop. We just jumped in . The owner closed the metallic door, and we stayed in for several minutes. Since the girls were students in the Christian Science Sunday School, this gave me the chance to talk with them to tell them how God was present right there, not only on the inside of the shop but also outside, and was caring for everyone. When I heard that the mob had passed by, I asked the owner to let us out. We went out in the street again and kept walking toward the next intersection. Just across the street was the place where the girls lived. When we got to the intersection, there were people standing on both sides of the sidewalks. I looked to my right, and I could see the mounted police with long rifles and tear gas and grenades and on the other side an angry group of demonstrators with stones in their hands. I only had to cross to get to the girls' house. So, I knelt a little bit so I could be at the same level with the girls, and I said, "Look, we live and move and have our being in God. (This is from the Bible: 'In him we live, and move, and have our being.') We're going to cross this avenue, and nothing is going to happen." We crossed safely and nothing happened. We got in the house, and from there I had to go back out to the bus to get to the airport. I picked up my suitcases and started out. The bus station was only a couple of blocks. I started walking, and again I saw this big crowd running my way with the police behind with the big sticks. I just moved a little to the side and let them pass, and I kept walking. All of a sudden I felt the end of a stick on my chest. It was an angry policeman asking me where I was going. I told him I was going to the airport and I had nothing to do with this demonstration. He said I couldn't keep going that way. I only needed to cross the street to the bus station. He said, "You have to turn around." Well, I managed to think of God somehow, of His presence. I stayed there and I didn't move. He kept running after the demonstrators. He didn't even turn his head as I walked across the street and got in the bus station. From there I was safe.

Somehow I felt that I didn't have anything to do with the whole thing. Also, I didn't take sides in the sense that those are the evil people and I am the good one. I was thinking all the time that there was only one Mind there, one presence, blessing us all.

Bea: One God. How people need that when they are caught up in riots! I can't tell you how much I appreciate having your insights today on what it means to live in a controlled environment in a military government. Thank you so much for being with us.

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