Reflected Intelligence

[Written Especially for Young People]

GLADYS D. PFANNENMILLER

How often do young people, in school or in college, dread taking examinations instead of realizing that they provide opportunities for proving the truth of Christian Science! Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us that God is infinite Mind, and that man is His reflection. If Mind is infinite, ever present, filling all space, man can never for an instant be separated from intelligence.

God and man coexist. Divine Mind is forever expressed. Moses discerned this fact in some measure or he could not have led the children of Israel out of Egypt. When chosen by God for this great work, he said humbly, "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" The answer came, "Certainly I will be with thee." When Moses doubted his own ability to speak to the children of Israel, we read that "the Lord said unto him. Who hath made man's mouth? . . . have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." One young Scientist was enabled to pass an oral examination fearlessly and joyously by remembering this last quotation.

At another time this student was helped with a written examination by trusting God to open the way for her. On the test papers were five topics for discussion. When she first read these topics, she became fearful, as the fourth question was one she could not answer. For a moment she felt helpless. Instantly she declared: "I am not going to be disturbed over this. I shall start at the beginning, and when I reach the fourth question I shall know what to do. God will make it clear to me." Very shortly the instructor announced that he was adding another topic to the examination sheet, and that the students might choose five out of the six questions, omitting any one they chose. The Christian Scientist felt quite familiar with the topic that was added, and could therefore submit a creditable paper.

It was not mere chance that settled this student's problem. It was the operation of divine Mind. The student was receptive and refused to be governed by fear. She did not outline, but simply looked to her Father-Mother God for help. She entered upon the work before her, trusting the one perfect Mind to guide her, and this Mind did not fail. Mind never fails. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 130), "Truth never falters nor fails; it is our faith that fails."

Whenever a problem confronts us, in school, in business, or at home, let us turn wholeheartedly to God and ask Him to solve it. Actually there are no problems in divine Mind, and if we acknowledge this we shall find that we are capable of doing all that we need to do. Indeed, Christian Science enlarges our capacities and increases our abilities in every line of work.

Sometimes young people are obliged to pursue courses which conflict with what they have learned in Christian Science. If this is the case, the student should realize that these studies deal with material, temporary concepts of mortal mind, and are to be regarded as so doing. Theses can be written and examinations passed on all required subjects, but the Christian Scientist knows that they cannot affect or interfere with his understanding of Christian Science.

In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 183) Mrs. Eddy has written, "Through the transparency of Science we learn this, and receive it: learn that man can fulfil the Scriptures in every instance; that if he open his mouth it shall be filled—not by reason of the schools, or learning, but by the natural ability, that reflection already has bestowed on him, to give utterance to Truth." What a joy it is to prove our Leader's statement! One's ability to do needful work is not dependent on the particular teacher assigned to him, or the particular textbook he is studying, or the school he is attending. His ability is dependent on the one infinite Mind, God, of whom man is the perfect reflection.

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