Christian Science is not just a religion, but a way of life that meets our needs and helps in solving daily problems. The power of this truth is immediate, and the results, through demonstration, prove to the individual that this Science is a continually working religion.

While attending undergraduate school at a large university on the West Coast, I was elected to a position in my dormitory house. It was my responsibility to be in charge of the annual house banquet at the end of the college year. There was a great deal of turmoil on campus that year regarding the dormitory situation. The following year the dorms were to go co-ed, and this meant possible change of many old traditions, including change of the names of the houses.

As I made my preparation for the banquet, I first thought it would be best to stay away from dormitory controversy. Everything seemed to go well, and the plans were shaping up as the date for the event approached. The highlight of each banquet was the guest speaker. Arrangement for such a speaker was also my responsibility. It was customary to ask a guest to speak on politics or some other controversial topic. I wanted to change this trend, and since I was a classics major, I asked my archaeology professor a month before the banquet to give a talk-slide show on some phase of archaeology. My professor agreed to give the talk, and my fellow house members looked forward to an interesting lecture. In fact, it looked as if there would be a record attendance.

As I was making my final preparation the day before the banquet, I decided to approach our guest speaker to remind him of the place and time. To my surprise I found him in his office packing. He told me he was leaving that night for Greece for an archaeological expedition and had forgotten all about his speaking engagement.

I was almost panic-stricken as I returned to my room. It was too late to ask another prominent speaker to give a talk at the banquet the following evening. I was then reminded of Mrs. Eddy's statement in Science and Health (p. 494), "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." I asked myself if there was truly a need present in this situation or if it was personal desire. I took up my Bible and copy of Science and Health and began to study the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly. The statement that stood out to me in my study was, "If action proceeds from the divine Mind, action is harmonious" (Science and Health, p. 239).

I could not at first think what was so harmonious about this situation, but I came to realize that God was in charge of all good and that I would be directed by divine Mind. I felt a sense of complete calm and turned my thought to my studies.

Within half an hour I received a telephone call. To this day I do not know how that woman came to call me, as I had never met her before. She informed me that she was an early alumna of the university and knew most of the individuals after whom buildings and dormitories on campus were named. She said she had heard that some of the names were to be dropped or changed, and she was concerned because she realized that each of these individuals had outstanding achievements. She then asked me if it would be possible to speak before the members of our house and relate the history of the namesakes of the various buildings and dormitories on campus.

I had originally wanted to stay clear of this topic, but it seemed my prayer had been answered and she had been directed to me. I told her that I happened to be looking for a speaker for the following evening and invited her to speak. My invitation was gladly accepted, and her lecture the following evening was most interesting and inspiring. She was the first speaker at our banquets to receive a standing ovation. Student petitions that followed asked for the retention of the present dormitory names, and the unrest regarding this issue was eased.

I was grateful for the success of the banquet, for help in easing a discordant situation on campus, but most of all for having Christian Science to turn to and rely on in time of immediate need. I am very grateful for membership in The Mother Church, in a local branch church, and past membership in two active Christian Science college organizations.

William Dale Curtis
Tumwater, Washington