There are important decisions that have to be made every day in personal and family matters, community and church affairs. And, on a broader scale, efforts are being made to resolve national and international questions. We may ask ourselves what one person could possibly do to contribute to right solutions to humanity's crucial concerns.

Sometimes we stand in awe of the wisdom obviously required to make decisions that will help mankind. Yet Christ Jesus showed us how great the healing effect of just one individual who is consistently obedient to God's law can be. His words and life still have relevance for millions of people as they struggle with humanity's problems today.

Jesus understood himself to be the Son of God; and we read in the Bible in John's Gospel: "The Father ... hath committed all judgment unto the Son." ^{John 5:22.} This word judgment comes from the Greek word meaning "a verdict, sentence, or decision." Interestingly, our word crisis comes from this source. By constantly exercising Christly judgment, Jesus showed men and women how it is possible for all of us to decide consistently on the side of God's law of harmony, rather than from the perception of a crisis situation.

For instance, one night the disciples, caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, fear the end is near. Jesus, in contrast, is asleep in the boat, apparently unaware of any peril until, in their anxiety, the disciples wake him. Clearly judging the situation, he invokes God's rule of harmony, and calm is quickly restored as evidence of the ceaseless operation of divine law. ^{See Mark 4:36–41 .}

It would seem at times that the whole world is tossing on a turbulent ocean of circumstances that appear beyond the control of God's jurisdiction. Mankind, like the disciples in the boat, cry out for assurance and safety. Yet, right where danger appears to be, Christ, or Truth, is already present to still the agitation of mortal fear and restore equilibrium. The remarkable fact is that all who are willing to be obedient to Christ can begin to glimpse this harmony and, through prayers for themselves and for our world, can gain a sense of assurance in making decisions.

Through her discovery of the Science of Christianity that the Master taught, Mrs. Eddy came to discern the reality of God's perfect creation. It was clear to her that God's law of good is always in full operation. She writes in Science and Health, "Understanding is the line of demarcation between the real and unreal." She continues, "This understanding is not intellectual, is not the result of scholarly attainments; it is the reality of all things brought to light." ^{Science and Health, p. 505.}

It should be a comfort to us all that we can recognize the same demarcation between a crisis and Christ. By learning how to establish in thought the fact that God's harmony is already certain and by realizing that the evidence of turmoil and conflict is not the truth of God's creation, we find we, too, can outface storms that are threatening. The spiritual understanding we yearn for becomes ours when, in deep humility and with a desire to help, we pray to God daily for more wisdom and love. Then we find that we are being equipped spiritually to meet the demands of our day.

We don't need to let events balloon to crisis proportions in our experience. We can decide with Christ against unreality and for freedom and health. The authority of Christ quiets the mental squalls of fear and confusion with the surety "Peace, be still." God's law is always effective, and eventually we see it prevail over evil.

Christ Jesus' days on the earth often seemed full of crisis. He was betrayed by one of his own disciples; he was tried, wrongfully found guilty, sentenced, and crucified. And yet his steadfast obedience and trust in God's all-conquering love made him triumphant over hatred and death. The Master's resurrection and final ascension give us the assurance that there is a God-ordained way out of all limited, mortal thinking that would confine life within physicality. Through his overcoming of death for himself and for others, Jesus was leading mankind to recognize and accept the radiant truth that in reality man is wholly spiritual and always at one with God, the only Life.

Mrs. Eddy brings out the point in Science and Health, "It is the living Christ, the practical Truth, which makes Jesus 'the resurrection and the life' to all who follow him in deed." ^{Ibid., p. 31.}

As the light of reality dawns on receptive thought, we are witnessing day by day our own resurrection out of materiality. We meet each challenge by exercising our God-given spirituality and walking with courage in the pathway of eternal Life.

Ann Kenrick