In Hutchinson, Kansas, in 2001, there was a crisis. Mid-morning, fiery geysers of gas and water began erupting throughout our city. 

As Mayor, I was notified immediately and raced downtown to our emergency operations center. Nobody knew how this was happening or how to stop it. Tragically, there were fatalities, buildings in the downtown were destroyed, and we had to put out an order to evacuate hundreds of homes in the affected areas. Yet what happened over the following days and weeks left me with no doubt about the truth of these words from the Bible: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1). 

I am a lifelong Christian Scientist. Christian Science offers a scientific explanation of the words and works of Christ Jesus, who was the best healer the world ever knew. And Jesus taught his followers that they needed to be healers too by evidencing what he unreservedly proved, that God is “a very present help in trouble.” So as I was racing to get downtown, my thought went immediately to God, affirming that God is divine Mind, and that I and all the citizens are ideas of Mind, God’s children, lovingly cared for and protected, right now. It was a real test of spiritual resolve and faith to remain steadfast in knowing that there is, there can be, only one omnipotent, controlling power.