A 24-Hour Help Line

Bringing a spiritual perspective to daily life

During my working life, I've held a variety of jobs. Now I'm doing part-time work in electronic communications. I've used different word- and data-processing programs. Working with computers demands flexibility. New technology keeps coming at you like the kaleidoscopic screen savers people use.

I'm impressed by a statement made in the textbook of Christian Science over 100 years ago: "In the material world, thought has brought to light with great rapidity many useful wonders. With like activity have thought's swift pinions been rising towards the realm of the real, to the spiritual cause of those lower things which give impulse to inquiry." What does this mean? The book goes on, "Belief in a material basis, from which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from matter to Mind [God] as the cause of every effect" (Mary Baker Eddy, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Pg. 268).

No matter how technology evolves, God is still omnipotent Mind, the spiritual cause of every true effect in the universe. When I'm at work, I feel it's smart to keep the computer help line handy as I tackle each new assignment. But what can you do when you can't locate the right technological help? I recently found out, in a practical way, that you can rely on God's help.

It happened when I was emboldened to "telefile" my personal state income tax return - that is, to send it electronically. Following the instructions carefully, I entered into the process using my touch-tone phone. I was doing well, getting favorable prompts, until I was confronted with a baffling request. I was stumped as to the correct way to answer. Trying to bypass that ambiguous section, I painstakingly went through the process again. Failure once more. Then the electronic voice just dismissed me with "Bye." I was out of it. Sorry.

I called for the number of a tax information help line. No one knew of one.

I hung up the phone and just sat there, feeling discouraged. I knew I had to find help. Even though this problem was minor in the scheme of things, I prayed, "Dear God, I know You are the Supreme Ruler of the universe, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-loving Mind. The one only true intelligence. You are my only Mind!" Christian Science has shown me that God has made us to know Him as All-in-all, and ourselves as His spiritual reflection. Through this knowledge, we find solutions to human problems of all kinds.

Calmer now, I was prompted to try the process once more. When I reached that baffling section, an idea came to me. The computer accepted my response, went forward, and soon the whole entry of my tax return was successfully completed.

Since then, I've been less intimidated by any computer assignment that has come my way. I do seek technical advice. But I remember what I learned that day: that we each have access to God, the one divine intelligence, which is perfect.

It was Christ Jesus who said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do .... For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth" (John 5:19, 20). This sets an example you and I can follow. We can take our troubled questions to the one Mind, which holds all our answers. The one true communicator, God, is filling all time and space. As His children, we can feel His power and presence right with us, always. As God's reflection, you know the right answer when you need it.

The Psalmist sang: "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.... Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world" (Ps. 19:2, 4). That's the help line we need most. God's help line.

I will lift up mine eyes

unto the hills, from whence

cometh my help. My help

cometh from the Lord,

which made heaven

and earth.

Psalms 121:1, 2

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