Article February 21, 2011 Issue

When a theological student wrestles with various questions and concepts in his chaplaincy program, he finds answers from a bird in flight.

Questions and grounded answers

By Matt Schmidt

In my first semester at theology school in the chaplain program, I felt overwhelmed at times by all the different ways in which God was presented in class and in the material we were studying. Not only did some of these views directly conflict with each other, but they were also fundamentally different from my own beliefs as a Christian Scientist. 

At the same time, I wanted to contribute in a way that would be helpful, because I felt that my understanding of my relationship with God had proved beneficial in my own life. During the semester in my papers and class discussions, I tried to bring out helpful thoughts about God and His relationship with His creation, but wasn’t sure how successfully I’d done this and how much I was accomplishing. Prayer, and study about God as divine Principle, helped free me from some of the sense of confusion. I was also grateful for insightful and inspiring thoughts other Christian Scientists shared with me. 

I could recognize that what was lifting us all up was the Christ, or God’s active message of salvation to mankind.