Public relations—and the divine relationship

I work in public relations, helping companies and individuals promote themselves in both mainstream and non-traditional media. It’s an exciting field, but can also be very challenging, since my clients and the media don’t always have exactly the same goals. But when I rely on prayer, I find that unexpected and amazing things take place.

A few months ago, I was praying about the idea of shared values. I wanted to attract clients who had the same values and goals that I cherished—like peacefulness and respect. I’d been reading an archived article from the Sentinel that discussed how right desires must always be in perfect balance with their expression. I prayed along these lines, wanting to understand that since these values come from God, He would also provide an “outlet,” so to speak, by which I could see them in my work. 

Not long after this, and in a most unusual and effortless way, I found myself with a national, non-profit client based in Washington, DC, that perfectly exemplified the values I’d been praying about. This client also had a strong commitment to civil liberties, an issue I’d been praying about as well. The officers of this group were wonderful to work with and showed incredible gratitude for the slightest effort—something that doesn’t occur too often!

However, there was one area where I couldn’t make any headway. The organization was planning to produce a series of promotional videos and they wanted a celebrity to be involved, not only to garner more media attention but to make inroads into the celebrity’s fan base. I suggested a well-known comedian who was based in Los Angeles, whose beliefs were consistent with the organization’s mission. The client loved the idea, and gave me permission to make overtures.

I went through all the usual channels: sending e-mails, arranging conference calls, making phone calls, and contacting friends who “knew someone” who “knew someone.” All to no avail: the comedian seemed to be surrounded by an army of handlers and publicists whose sole reason for existence was to say no! In the rare event my e-mails were even answered, they were all curtly rejected without explanation.

One Sunday night, I sincerely prayed to God to show me how to get past the barriers.

Promising conference calls with television executives proved pointless as my request was turned down before I could even make my case. Friends of mine who worked in the entertainment industry gloomily explained that because my client was a small organization with a comparatively low profile, it was unlikely anyone in the comedian’s inner circle would help me get access. “They only want big, important names,” they told me.

But I knew that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 ), and that it was time to start seriously praying instead of mindlessly going through my usual routine. One Sunday night, I sincerely prayed to God to show me how to get past the barriers. I thought about the immediacy of God’s power, and about how nothing could stop His spiritual attributes from being expressed. I also prayed to recognize that spiritual law knows nothing of “problems,” no matter how insurmountable they may appear; which meant that the perfect solution, whatever it was, was already present, and that as I listened to God’s direction, I could expect to hear it. I affirmed that God would never put me in a situation where I couldn’t help or bless others.

Immediately I felt an impulse—what I’d call an angel message (see Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 581 )—to return to the comedian’s website, which seemed a waste of time since I’d already made use of every available contact. But I followed through on this “nudge,” and after reviewing all the contacts one more time, I noticed an e-mail belonging to the booking agent that hadn’t been tried. I also noticed that the comedian would be appearing locally in four days.

The perfect solution, whatever it was, was already present.

I was prompted to e-mail this person, quickly introducing my organization and asking if we could come to the event and do an interview. Within one minute I had a reply: “Sure, come on by.” Shocked, I replied with a follow-up e-mail: “We’ll be bringing a camera crew; is that OK?” “Sure, you can set up beforehand,” he responded.

My immediate reaction was this was simply too easy. Clearly, this person didn’t have the authority to grant the interview. Perhaps he didn’t even understand what I wanted! But then another thought occurred to me: Why are you surprised? Everything God does is quick and seamless. 

I remembered reading another early Christian Science article that advised the reader not to think of any problem as difficult or requiring time or struggle to solve, since those elements simply don’t exist in God’s creation. Instead, the article counseled, we should affirm that God works spontaneously as we listen to Him. That meant that if this interview was the right course, God would guide everyone involved.

I alerted my client right away. Naturally, they were thrilled, and immediately authorized the camera crew. On the night of the event, I started getting nervous, worried that we might be turned away or that a publicist might step in and quash the whole plan. But I reassured myself that God’s ideas always play out perfectly from start to finish. And that’s exactly what happened: We received a friendly welcome, were allowed to film the entire event, and were given some great quotes by the comedian after the show. The clients were extremely pleased and the video is being edited, with a big launch planned this year.

This experience taught me that God not only gives us the desires of our heart, but uses these desires to help others in ways we never thought possible.