Article February 2, 2009 Issue

LOVE UNIFIES US

STEFANIE GEDDES,—BERLIN, GERMANY

FOR OVER SIX YEARS NOW I've been teaching at a comprehensive school in Berlin-Neukölln, a low-income district of our city with a high percentage of immigrants. Children come to my school with student files that tell about criminal activity, violence, disruptive behavior, or other difficulties. When I was first assigned to this school, I was devastated, not wanting to work with young adolescents from such rough backgrounds. I wasn't sure if I'd be strong enough to assert myself with an immigrant student population, and especially with boys raised in very patriarchal families. And I wasn't sure if I could feel safe there as a woman.

There were many occasions when I didn't think I had the strength to stand up to the tough discussions, massive resistance, and disrespectful attitudes of the boys in my classes, and I would feel hurt and extremely stressed physically. At those times I turned with all my heart to God and His law of good. I knew from my study of Christian Science that God——divine Love—does not distinguish by gender, or societal role models. Love unifies us.

I often prayed with one of my favorite passages from Science and Health: "One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ... equalizes the sexes ..." (p. 340). Holding to these powerful truths strengthened and freed me. It reassured me that neither I, nor one of these boys, had actual control over our school day. Our loving Father-Mother God alone had control. In infinite Love there was no room for fear or suffering. In fact, all of us were united as God's children, created "male and female" and "very good"(Gen. 1:27, 31).

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