There’s a reason why Mrs. Eddy wrote “The time for thinkers has come,” on the first page of Science and Health. So how are we being thinkers?

When I heard the topic for winter convocation, I had to ask myself what we practice most at Principia, and I realized that over the past three years I’ve always been inspired by the deep thinkers, questioners, and do-er’s that I see in this community.

Obviously we practice lots of different things, being involved in all kinds of activities. But it’s through these activities that WE practice the one thing that sets us apart: Christian Science.

To me, practicing Christian Science in a community involves three parts: First, being an active thinker--or being alert in your thought in every moment. Second, it involves sharing your inspiration and questions with others and third, learning from their thoughts as well. To me these factors are the basis for a progressive and healthy community, and I love that I see so many of us practicing them in our daily lives!
A friend here once reminded me that we weren’t created as completely separate individuals, but instead that there is a REASON why we can interact with each other—it’s because we were made to share love, and happiness, and inspiration! During last quarter’s cross country season I was always blown away by the insights shared at the beginning of practice every day. If I had been feeling tired or lazy on any day, those thoughts were literally always completely gone once practice started. I remember doing a tough workout on the track one day, and at one point I started really hurting and wanting to fall behind. But as I started to back off the teammate next to me yelled “NO!”really strongly, right in my ear. And that was all it took--I remembered that I needed to stop listening to my muscles and instead, start listening to God! I remember this workout so clearly because right then, when I had needed it most, my teammate had been there to give me that single-word reminder to get on top of my thought--and to recognize God as my energy. That day we finished the workout together faster than we had run it all season. There were also lots of times throughout the season where I was able to do the same thing for other teammates in moments of need. These were the times when I saw what it really meant to be on a team of practicing Christian Scientists. To be a part of a team of active thinkers (which is especially applicable in cross country since you literally learn to rely on God every step of the way.) But besides just staying alert in your own thought, a team involves being willing to share your inspiration with others. This is why a community of thinkers is so unique—not only can we be practicing Christian Science individually through our activities, but we can also be helping each other to do it, more than we might remember to on our own, or in ways we would never have thought of alone!

I also gained a greater understanding of myself, my relationship to others and of Christian Science when I was abroad in Vietnam and Cambodia over winter break. This experience showed me that Principia’s community of practice isn’t limited to the physical borders of this campus, or of Elsah, or St. Louis either…we literally took this idea of practice with us halfway across the world!

During the abroad we had a lot of times to share how we were thinking through the difficult images of poverty, death and devastation that we often saw. At first, this picture made me question a lot of my own beliefs, but it was by turning my thought to prayer, and listening to how others on the abroad were thinking through these issues that I had one of the most profound breakthrough experiences that I have ever felt in my practice of Christian Science. I learned to see love everywhere, and in everything!—differently than I had ever seen it before!

I realized this was because I had to continually focus my thought on the true idea of man, and the true idea of life, and of love! I remember walking out of a torture museum one day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and seeing a man begging on the street, whose face and body had been completely disfigured from the genetic effects of Agent Orange. For a second I was really shocked by what I saw, but by this point in the trip I had been practicing turning completely away from the material picture and I was actually able to do it, right then! I looked him in the eye and smiled. I didn’t have any fear, just total confidence in Love’s care! It was so cool to feel that and know it was true! Our group could see and feel that our prayers were effective, and we talked about it! Moment by moment, we were practicing being active thinkers. We were actively knowing the Truth in our individual thoughts, but which were also the product of all of the inspiration and support that we shared throughout the trip. It was amazing to know that our thoughts were healing the world, because we were replacing the material picture with the spiritual reality. This is what we must continue to do.

Again, I’m so grateful that Principia is a community of such deep thinkers because of the influence of good that it has had on me—and which I see it having on others all the time. Being a part of this community has challenged me to be a more active thinker, and to use my friends, coaches, professors, RCs and really everyone to learn more about myself, about Christian Science, and about the world.

When we share our thoughts with the purpose of uplifting and inspiring others, our community sees progress. I think we’re doing a great job, but there’s always room for improvement. We need to be holding each other to the practice of being active thinkers, and spiritualizing our thought in every moment!

We aren’t all going to be facing poverty on the streets or running out of breath on a track, but that’s the coolest part of our practice. No one’s will be the same! We all have the chance to practice being active thinkers in the community through our individual, daily practices—through relationships, classes, sports, theater, whatever it may be. But ALL practices require thinkers. Next time you’re frustrated with someone, see the true man instead. Next time you prepare for a test, USE your unlimited intelligence. If you are feeling inspired, share it! It’s the little moment-by-moment decisions that make enormous differences. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, “We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being.” We have the power to CHANGE our experience—to see more harmony, progress and healing in our own lives and the community if we have the desire and discipline to be active thinkers! So let’s do it!

Thank you all for coming today!