We're so glad you're joining us for today's Christian Science Daily Lift.

Russ Gerber is sharing his encore lift. Simple prayers bring big changes.

Russ is a Christian science practitioner and teacher who lives in Mission Viejo, California.

When I was in college, I had a growing interest in radio broadcasting. I worked at the

college radio station and loved what I was doing and wanted to pursue a career in that field.

But an event came along that changed things dramatically. I was drafted into the Army, and this

was at the height of the Vietnam conflict. When I was processing into basic training, we had to

fill out a document that listed all the jobs available.

I looked down the list and at the bottom I saw broadcast specialist. I was thrilled,

but I was also told that they refer to that document as the dream sheet. Still, I selected

broadcast specialist and turned it in. Towards the end of basic training, it was announced what our assignments would be for our remaining time in the Army.

I was assigned to weapons repair.

Well, my heart sank.

First of all, I had no interest in doing that kind of work.

And second, it seemed likely I'd be sent to do it in

Vietnam. That evening, I sat in the barracks completely discouraged. Those assignments came from the

Pentagon, and so I figured I had no option but to do weapons repair work. But then an option did occur to me. I had learned in my

classes in a Christian Science Sunday school that I could pray and that I could trust that the God

who is all loving, all knowing, all seeing, and all wise would help me. That was pretty much what I knew about God at that

time, but it gave me encouragement. That evening, I held as closely as I could to that simple idea of God,

and I listened. Then something more occurred to me. This God, who is pure love,

can only give us the best. He never gives us second best. Well, over the years I've learned

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