This past spring, a friend and I went to Mexico City, primarily to study its art and architecture. I enjoy traveling and was really excited about the trip, although at the same time several things concerned me. My friend and I hadn't spent much time together, and I hoped that we'd get along really well. I'd also been warned we'd be in areas with a high crime rate, and I wasn't accustomed to the altitude, native food, or water.

For most of my life I've turned to God for answers to my concerns, and with good results — many solutions have come in ways I could not have foreseen. For instance, at the end of my sophomore year of college, I felt as if my life was a big mess with no clear path to take. I'd been unexpectedly denied on-campus housing for the following year. My frantic search for appropriate off-campus housing was fruitless. Finally, I decided to turn to God and listen in prayer for His plan. The answer that came was surprising and unexpected. It became very clear to me that I should take a leave of absence and come back for spring term. Although this had certainly not been in my plan, I felt peaceful and happy, convinced that it was the right course of action. That time off turned out to be one of the best and happiest times of my life. I think this was because I rededicated myself to consistent study of the Bible and Science and Health. In fact, the spiritual grounding I gained during that period literally changed my life. For one thing, I started loving others more, and myself as well.

Because of experiences like that, I knew I could trust God to take care of my friend and me in Mexico City. But it seemed important for me to take time for prayer before we left, and to listen closely to God for His direction. I remembered God can be thought of as Principle, a name for Him that I'd learned in my Christian Science Sunday School that imparts the idea of His law of order and safety. And right then I thought, Because God is Principle, there can be no room for disorder. This prayer, which quieted my thoughts and eliminated my anxiety, also filled me with a calm assurance that God would be guiding and protecting my every movement.

I had to remember this on our third night in Mexico City, when I woke up with what felt like symptoms of severe food poisoning. My first inclination was to reproach myself for having eaten a certain dish earlier that evening. I soon remembered my prayer before the trip, however, and reminded myself that God was in charge of my life. I reasoned that because God, good, was governing, there wasn't any room for sickness, or for mistakes. Seeking healing, I turned to the Christian Science Quarterly Weekly Bible Lesson. I wanted to be free of the pain and nausea, but also of the concern that I wouldn't get to experience Mexico after all.  And I didn't want to upset my friend.

I always find that reading passages from the Bible and Science and Health is comforting and helpful. And that night, this particular sentence from Science and Health assured me of the fact that my very existence was proof that God is harmonious: "Man as the offspring of God, as the idea of Spirit, is the immortal evidence that Spirit is harmonious and man eternal" (p. 29). I asked myself, As God's offspring, how can I possibly be sick?

As I read the Lesson, this verse from Psalms stood right out to me: "How long will ye imagine mischief against a man?" (62:3). For me, that night, this meant that in believing another person could have negative character traits or habits, I would be imagining that he or she was not God's offspring or expression. And I realized that such a view does not come from God, who is Love itself. But I wondered why this passage kept coming to my attention.

Then I remembered that I'd been feeling resentful and angry toward the woman we were staying with in Mexico. Although she had opened her home to us, she'd been unexpectedly rude and difficult to get along with. Suddenly I felt that this Bible passage was God's message to me to turn away from resentment, and at the same time to stop believing that this woman had an acrimonious personality. I needed to see her as she was in truth: the loving, peaceful child of Love. At first I really resisted doing so! But the idea kept coming back again and again.

Finally, as I thought about it, I found several qualities about her that I liked — such as her intelligence and dedication to family. I thought more and more about her true individuality as God's daughter, and found my anger and resentment fading. I felt embraced in God's love. As I continued to focus on loving God and loving this woman as His expression, the fear and discomfort lessened and went away. I'm convinced that because I was no longer bogged down in hateful thinking, I no longer suffered physically. The rest of the night I slept peacefully.

Next morning, my traveling companion, who until that point had been unaware of my difficulties, offered me some pills "just in case" I might not feel well. However, I turned that offer down because I knew, and was already proving, that the answer to every problem is mental, not physical.

I had slept only about three hours, but spent the day actively walking around the city. By lunchtime I was eating normally and feeling completely healed. I also continued to feel love toward our host. Not surprisingly, her rudeness lessened significantly, and our interactions were much more positive.

My friend and I had an incredible time and got along very well with each other. It was exciting to be in such a beautiful place full of life, history, and kind people. Ultimately, however, the most important experience I took away from that trip—and the one for which I am most grateful—is the valuable healing of resentment. I learned a lesson I won't forget. css