Article May 24, 2010 Issue

GUIDED MEDIATION

BY SUSAN BARTLETT

THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE and Science and Health, there are many assurances of God's continuous ability to guide us, His creations, at any time and any place. Some of my favorite passages of guidance include "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1); "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Isa. 30:21); and "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Science and Health, p. 494).

As I've been studying Christian Science and applying the ideas that have come to me, I've discovered that it's one thing to read these assurances, but something else entirely to actually experience them. I am seeing more and more how God reliably guides us in the workplace.

I am a mediator for a family court. In my work I assist people who are in conflict with each other and help them look for solutions that they can each live with and support. Usually the argument is between two parents who are planning to separate, and involves how they are going to handle custody, visitation, and support of their children. The people I meet with usually don't seem to have much hope that they can solve their problems, haven't had exposure to the mediation process before, and have never met me. Our goal is for them to share their wants and needs with each other, and together to end up with a written agreement to settle the situation in a way they both feel is fair. Sometimes other family members or lawyers are involved too, so the mediation room can be quite full at times.