Week 10: West Midwest

Just like last week, I started in Chicago, but this time I toured the western-half of the Midwest going through Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa before heading back to Chicago. This was a 1,200 mile journey over a 4 day period filled with a few hiccups, triumphs, and a whole lot of Christianity.

First stop, the University of Chicago in Hyde Park. I met with a few individuals for a lunch meeting and even before I shared one of my talking points, I realized that everyone had a clear sense of the CSOs purpose. The role I played was simply planning the meeting, and then I just sat back and watched them explore the many opportunities that CSO can provide them on campus.

I lined up a cab to pick me up in Hyde Park, taking me to Union Station in the downtown district so that I could catch my bus to the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Unfortunately, this did not happen as I planned and I ended up missing the bus. This was a very strenuous trial because I was not receiving the correct information from the bus company, and as a result, I was going to miss a planned dinner and CSO meeting at the University of Wisconsin’s Concord House.

I was working with the 23rd Psalm and trying my best to know “The Lord is my Sheppard,” and, as a member of the flock, my only responsibility is to follow the Sheppard. This took a lot of weight off my shoulders, and I reexamined the fact that my only purpose here is to meet with fellow Christian Scientists and support CSO activity.

Because I had no other circumstances to worry about, I was led to hop on a bus with a new destination, Minneapolis. I would arrive next to the Metrodome just before midnight, and while on the bus, I was able to connect with family friends who offered to extend an immense amount of hospitality to me during my visit. My needs were being met, and we were also able to visit the University of Minnesota and connect with those who are interested in supporting the organization on campus.

I rode the bus from Minneapolis to Ames. After arriving in the small college town, Megan Lovich, active member of the Iowa State University CSO, and a former regional representative member of the CSO support team, picked me up. Megan let me crash on her couch, and we were able to connect with a few other members of the Iowa State University CSO the next day. The 4 people I met were all excited about the CSO and want to sponsor another lecture this year.

The next bus trip took me to Iowa City where I met with 4 active members of the University of Iowa CSO. These individuals had a wealth of CSO experiences and stories to share, and we enjoyed a long conversation at a local café. Later I learned that the student activities office provides the CSO with both a room and free marketing for their meetings. The UI CSO has glimpsed the good that comes from regularly getting together and discussing their practice of Christian Science.

The bus that took me from Iowa City to Chicago didn’t arrive until 11:30pm, and at this time I realized I didn’t have any cash to buy a subway pass to get myself from Union Station to O’Hare airport. Walking the cold streets of Chicago late at night, and looking for an ATM, I was presented with what turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to practice a higher level of Christianity than I ever have before. I was able to demonstrate the healing presence of God’s Love through a conversation I had with a man wandering the streets. (I’ll write a separate blog about this experience soon.)

I ended up pulling a few dollars out of my account, able to catch the subway to Chicago O’Hare, and was on the first flight out of Chicago back to Boston. In several different scenarios on this journey I was able to prove the Science of the Christ that Mary Baker Eddy teaches us in the textbook, and develop my understanding of what it means to be a Christian Scientist.