I spent last weekend at the Timberline Lodge, located on a slope of Mt. Hood in Oregon, as a lecturer for a group of over 220 youth gathered from around the Northwest and other parts of North America. The participants were largely Christian Scientists, but also included many who knew nothing or very little about Christian Science.

The purpose of the conference was to strengthen the spiritual outlook of these individuals, provide an atmosphere of like-minded thinkers to become acquainted with, speak on the relevance of Christian Science to solving problems they face, and learn how to be more effective healers.

The weekend was a grand success. The love, friendliness, spirit, and joy of God youthfully expressed were palpable.

During the sharing time at the end of the meeting, one 20-something explained how she had soaked up Christian Science as a teenager and had read Science and Health every night before going to bed. While in college, she lost her love of the truth, wandered in the wilderness and eventually felt a wall erect between her and the message of the Comforter. She relayed how she came to the Summit highly skeptical of finding much good and facing this huge wall of resistance to listening. But part way through Saturday, she said “something clicked in my thought” on the subject and the wall tumbled down–completely. She expressed her joy of having that barrier to her spiritual progress dissolved and couldn’t wait to get back home and jump back into the Bible and Science and Health to continue her spiritual journey.

Another older teen shared how she had been overwhelmed with dizziness the day before, tracked down a practitioner to pray with her and was instantaneously healed on the spot.

One particularly moving account was shared by a 30 year old mother who learned about Christian Science two months ago. The Summit was her second exposure to its teachings, and she was thrilled to high heaven about the spiritual discoveries she was making. She recounted how when she first read some writings on Christian Science last January on the Web, she cried, “This is what I believe! This is what I believe!” She couldn’t wait to get back home and introduce her friends and neighbors to its ideas.

Hearts were touched, lives were changed, attitudes reformed, and healings happened. It was a special two days that bolstered the morale and love of dozens of youth who have since gone back to their respective communities with a stronger spiritual position to work out from for the good of all.

View from front side of lodge

View of Mt. Hood from back side of lodge