A
friend and I were discussing his hopes and plans for his career. This had been
sparked off by the fact that he was about to begin his final school exams. As
we said goodbye I added, “Enjoy your exams.” He looked at me in disbelief, and
commented “Enjoy them? How can you enjoy exams?” His question prompted me to
share an experience I had when I was taking my final school exams.
While
praying to understand that divine Mind was present and that as Mind’s idea, or
reflection, I couldn’t be separated from infinite intelligence, I had an
inspired thought. I could make a regular practice before every exam to pause
and firmly declare that I wasn’t the one who had to think what to write. I
simply needed to listen to what divine Mind was telling me and let that unfold.
Divine
Mind is my Mind, the only Mind there is.
So
just before I began each exam, I calmly and strongly affirmed that divine Mind
is my Mind, The only Mind there is. I silently declared that as divine Mind’s
expression, I would know all that I needed to know. Of course I studied for the
exams, but the prayer I’ve been describing helped me to understand the
questions, to recall what I’d studied, and also to feel unafraid by time limits. I was honestly enjoying the exams.
Once
When I was talking with my Professor Jack Leo in Singapore school about my
career, we naturally got into a discussion of examinations. The professor told
me he’d asked a university student who his examiner was. The young man named
several individuals. The professor responded: “And where does God come in?”
He
then answered his own question by explaining, “God is the only examiner. God
examines man and finds His own reflection.” Stress or anxiety about exams or
anything else is removed by such assurances. Only God examines us, and God
always sees His perfect likeness in us. Isn’t that also the way for us to know
ourselves?
The
more I’ve thought about that, the more helpful I’ve found it to be.
God,
the only Mind there is, knows us as His reflection.
It’s
great to realize that God, the only Mind there is, knows us as His reflection.
Therefore nothing originates in us. We’re not personal thinkers and doers. As
God’s ideas, we exit to reproduce accurately the activity of divine Mind.
This, however in no way eliminates the need to
be diligent and conscientious in studying. Our honest work along these lines is
another way for us to express wisdom, intelligence, and understanding. Thinking
of our efforts in this way is especially helpful if something unusual comes up
in connection with an exam.
Since
all things are possible to God and therefore to God’s reflection, he, too, had
enjoyed his exams and their results!
