Article June 19, 2000 Issue

First response

How to be panic-free, with God's help

By Margaret G. Griffin

Our high-school senior was interviewing at a prospective college, inquiring about the adventure-based recreation program (his intended major), when someone mentioned that one of the required classes is instruction in "first response." It covers wilderness emergency procedures and leads to certification in what is called Wilderness First Responder. In the wilderness, a first responder would need to be able to provide leadership and practical support in the event of injury, illness, or danger.

As I sat there with our son hearing those words, "first response," and thinking about help in an emergency situation, my thoughts automatically went to God. Being a lifelong, church-going Christian, and in more recent years a student of the Bible and of the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, I have read and heard many accounts of every difficulty imaginable being resolved by turning first and only to God. And I have experienced this divine help myself. To me, now, turning to God is the "first response."

This is not to discount in any way the value of careful and skillful training of a leader in emergency situations. But it is to recognize that human problem solving, on its own, has its limits. And it is also to acknowledge that God, the infinite Mind of the universe, is the eternal source of all knowledge, all power. And is ever present.

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