It was the day of the state high-school "Knowledge Bowl" tournament, and I was coaching the defending state champions. The competition promised to be keen, as opposing teams would be racing to push their buzzers first and to answer questions on a broad range of topics within the allotted time.

The first round—a written examination—was underway, with oral rounds to follow. I sat in an empty classroom and decided to lay aside my notes in order to pray and to think about what the true purpose of this activity was.

Was this day merely an exercise in human brainpower? Was it simply to determine who was the smartest, or which school was the best, or which coach had the latest training methods and strategies? I wanted a clearer vision of how this activity fitted into the purpose of God, divine Mind. It would be easy to get drawn into the kind of mental environment where fast recall is equated with superior intelligence.

Christian Science offers a broader view of intelligence, and a deeply spiritual one, based on an understanding of God and our relationship to Him. It teaches that all intelligence proceeds from divine Mind, God. It helps us see that intelligence is not, in fact, located in separate personal minds with varying levels of intellectual proficiency, because there is one Mind only, and all of God's offspring reflect the wisdom of infinite Mind. This all-knowing Mind is never in short supply of intelligence but is omniscient. Good ideas from Mind are constantly unfolding and are available to all.

It is easy to believe that certain people are smart and others are not. But as a teacher, I had already been learning to value different expressions of intelligence in students. Some students excelled in writing, others in working with mechanical equipment, some in being humorous, and others in thinking up endless questions! Every student I had worked with evidenced some aspect of the infinite variety of intelligent thought and action. I could expect that this day would be no different.

I looked up the metaphysical interpretation of the term intelligence in the Glossary of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. It reads in part, "Substance; self-existent and eternal Mind; that which is never unconscious nor limited" (p. 588). The substance of the entire day, then, could be seen as the expression of intelligence. Not only the contestants but also the judges, coaches, and spectators were included in this expression of intelligence.

As I headed off to round one, I felt a buoyant sense of unity with everyone there—no feelings of "them versus us." I knew that the understanding and acknowledgment of one Mind leads to brotherhood rather than division. Even when we did not repeat our victory of the previous year, I felt calm and peaceful. The team was very disappointed, though, to finish in fifth place.

Part of a verse from one of Mrs. Eddy's poems came to thought as we drove home in a very quiet van: "... God is good, and loss is gain" (Poems, p. 4). We had lost our title. How could that be a gain? I turned once again to that description of intelligence. If intelligence is "eternal Mind" and "substance," then it is permanent and could never be lost! Nor could the team ever be "at a loss" for answers. They didn't have to depend on luck or guesswork. The only thing that could ever be lost was a false sense of man as a mortal with a mind separate from God with its own limited sense of ego or intellect. But the statement about loss doesn't just intimate that one can't lose. It says that loss is gain. Considering again the meaning of intelligence, I felt assured that this gain would be something of substance—something we could recognize as gain.

During this same period our school had applied for an "Excellence in Education" award, which involved the writing of a huge report on all aspects of our programs and curriculum. A couple of weeks after our return from the state tournament, the national adjudicating committee came to view our school firsthand. This visit included interviews with teachers and students, and observations of classes and activities. One afternoon after school, the committee was observing tryouts for cheerleaders. I happened to be involved in the selection process, so I was present. Suddenly the cafeteria doors swung open and the vice-principal came in waving a big trophy. He came over to me and announced in front of everyone that not only had our team been awarded the sportsmanship award at the "Knowledge Bowl" tournament, but a beautiful letter had accompanied the award telling of our team's kindness, humor, and compassion during the rounds of competition. The timing of this presentation couldn't have been better, and we did go on to be tapped for a national award for excellence. This honor blessed not only our team but the entire school and community as well. And there was more gain to come.

At the beginning of the following school year, the team met and discussed ways we could improve performance. As the students talked, I saw that they were relying on one particular team member to carry most of the responsibility for answering correctly. They believed he was the strength of the team. He had had a bad day at the state tournament. If he had been "hot," we could have won, they reasoned. I realized that I had at times fallen into this trap as well. In fact, this young man's reputation as a scholar was recognized statewide in this particular activity.

I knew from studying the Bible that Christ Jesus taught that all individuals are valuable and are in reality the offspring of God. This means they are spiritual and perfect. I realized that this perfection certainly includes intelligence, which is meant to be utilized. Intelligence, however, is not limited. If the remaining team members lacked confidence in their own abilities, they might be tempted to depend on someone else to make them winners. I saw that, as coach, I could correct this false view by seeing each student as capable, expressing wisdom and good judgment. I did nothing different in my coaching; but I knew that this realization of each one's ability to express intelligence was the true gain.

We did win the state championship the next year and went on to compete in a national tournament. After winning a tough round in that contest, team members rejoiced in the fact that they truly were a team, and that the answers of each team member had contributed to the victory. They no longer saw intelligence as a quality expressed by a privileged few or as a matter of guesswork, but as their natural right. I was grateful to see their acknowledgment of this gain.

This experience was a milestone for me too. I began to see gains everywhere. Where previously I might have thought that waiting for someone or something could result in loss of time, I now saw waiting as an opportunity to think quietly. Where before I had seen change as a loss of the familiar and comfortable, I now saw change as an opportunity to gain new experiences. Where at one time I saw quiet study of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook as almost a loss of my free time, I now treasured this study for its spiritual gains of new vision and purpose.

Because man is the reflection of infinite divine Mind, everyone already includes intelligence. It isn't dependent on formal education or on genes. It isn't found only in hallowed halls or in corporate think tanks. It's everywhere, expressing the omnipresence of Mind.