The draft and you

You don't have to wait and see what happens. If you're of draftable age, there is much you can do right now. Remember Christ Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." n1 Through prayer you can get a better grip on the freedom God, Truth, bestows on you.

n1 John 8:32.

This isn't meant to be a platform either against or in favor of the draft. It's meant to be a springboard you can use to conquer the uncertainty, the helplessness, or the fear of an interrupted life that tends to hang over young people whenever there's serious talk of bringing back registration for military service.

Who governs your life? Actually, God, life, does. The Bible says, "The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us." n2 That's true now. It's true always, draft or no draft. Get a fix on your close relationship to Love, Truth, and Life (all names for God). There's no uncertainty in the presence of the certainty of Love. Man, the expression of Truth, is never helpless. God has given him dominion. There's no way your life could be interrupted or the good in it delayed years, or even days, when you know your life as always governed by and expressive of the divine Life.

n2 Isaiah 33:22.

Mary Baker Eddy n3 says, "You must feel and know that God alone governs man; that His government is harmonious; . . . " n4 The feeling and knowing we do of this government will help greatly to establish our freedom in everyday life.

n3 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science;

n4 Rudimental Divine Science,m p. 10.

The point here is not to pray to God to stop registration for the draft, or for some slick way out like a high lottery number for yourself (assuming they use a lottery next time). True prayer isn't like that. It's affirming and knowing Life, Truth, and Love to be governing everyone and everything in harmony and peace. And then trusting God.

Believe me, this isn't hollow optimism. I was the "right" age during the Vietnam era. At first, the fear of losing two years I could never get back was almost overwhelming. But instead of caving in, I made an effort to affirm prayerfully that my life was within the control of God, Love, good, so only good could be a part of my life.

What happened? I was drafted! Hardly the solution I was banking on. But, as I continued to pray instead of crumbling, things worked out wonderfully. I served in an area that I'd studied in college. My time was spent growing and learning. The whole period was packed with signs of God's love and care.

Now, that's just one example of the transforming power of prayer. It's not meant to be a pattern. The path you follow may be different. Draft or no draft. The important thing is, understanding the control Life and Love and Truth have over our lives -- and then yielding to that control -- we'll experience wonderful good. Uncertainty, helplessness, fear of an interrupted life -- they can all dissolve. Turning to Life and Love now will help do the job effectively. DAILY BIBLE VERSE He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. he shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalms 91:1-4