Mind Power: Touching the Mind of God

The true power of the human mind does not reside within itself. We cannot know the height or depth of the mind's power until we begin to think beyond our own experience; until we begin to contemplate the vastness of the universe; until we begin to contemplate the intellectual and creative power used to bring it into being; until we begin to contemplate the power of Will that the physical universe demonstrates. We are at the same time separate and one with the Supreme Intelligence of the universe. It is in this relationship with the Supreme Intelligence that the true power of the mind becomes evident. Touching the mind of God is a mountain-top experience.

Summers in the southern United States are brutal. By the time August arrives daytime temperatures hover in the mid to upper nineties and the humidity is high. Only a short time outside is enough to drench a person in sweat. The summer heat and humidity is an unpleasant experience that seems to last forever.

Benjamin Blevins had grown up in the south. He lived in Jackson Mississippi with his mother and father. He had lived in Jackson his whole life. He knew about southern summers. He had experienced 18 of them. His life had been pretty much uneventful. He was a good student, He had never caused his parents much trouble, but there had been the occasional spanking that he got from his mother for being disobedient when he was a young child. He went to church with his parents. He joined the church at an early age, and was an active member.

It was a bit of shock to his parents when he came home from school one day and announced that he had decided what he was going to do after graduating high school. "I'm going to join the army," he told his parents. Their first response was to try to talk him out of it. "You need to think about this long and hard," his mother told him, "because once you are in you won't be able to get out until your time is up."
He had thought about it. The thought of joining the army tugged at him. He tried to think of reasons not to go, but there were no good reason to stay. His parents had wanted him to go to college immediately after high school, but they didn't have the money to send him. He didn't want to put them in a financial bind. The army seemed like good way to get help with college. Besides, he was still undecided on a major. Joining the army would give him time to think.

Ben reported to basic training two weeks after graduating high school. The June sun was hot as he stood at attention while the drill sargeant barked at the new recruits. He could only image what the August sun would feel like.

The army routine was a culture shock. The demands were stringent. Most of the training wasn't hard, but he did have a problem with the physical training. The physical training was exhausting. The drill sargeants' pressure was relentless. They seemed to single him out. He was too slow, he gave out too quick, he wasn't pulling his weight.

To graduate basic training the recruit had to pass a PT test. If the recruit did not pass the test he would be required the training until he passed the test. He was afraid that he would not pass the PT test. It was a fear that hung in his mind constantly. He did not want to get "recycled".

"Dear,God," he would pray, "help me pass this PT test". He said the little prayer often as the weeks passed. It was usually the last thing he did before going to sleep at night. He felt a sense of peace as consciousness would gave way to sleep.

Ben didn't know how God would do it, or when He would do it. He only knew that he needed a miracle. There was no way that he was going to be ready. Physically, he was in worst shape than when he started. Ben's problem was a God-sized problem, and it could only be solved by God.

Ben walked into the barracks the afternoon before the PT test dejected. His platoon had just been dismissed after having completing the afternoon run. He was drenched in sweat. There was just enough time to stow his gear and get cleaned up to go to afternoon chow.

He put away his gear and grabbed a towel to go to wash off. He glanced out the window that was at the end of his bunk. The afternoon western sun was bright against a blue sky. Ben noticed a lone large dark cloud in the distance. It was the only cloud in sky. "i could use a bunch of those," he thought to himself, thinking that cloudy weather would be a lot better than the sun beating down on him as he took the PT test. Then he thought that if he was going to wish for cloudy weather then he might as wish for a hard rain that would call off the PT test altogether.

He began to pray. "God, send a rain storm. Please make it rain so hard that they call off the PT test. I need to pass this test". Silently, he repeated the words over and over with such intensity that tears started streaming down his face. His soul ached to reach out to God. It was all he had. At that moment he knew what needed to be done. he suddenly felt a certainty that he had not known before.

He went to bed that night thanking God for what he was about to do. He felt in his soul that God had heard his prayer and that He would help him in his time of great need.

In the morning Ben woke and looked out the window. The sky was full of clouds! The entire sky was overcast with rain clouds. It looked like it would start raining at any minute. He was amazed. He was over-joyed. But there was one thing missing. Where was the rain?

Ben finished breakfast. No rain.

Ben's training unit marched to the PT course. No rain.

The graders briefed the trainees on how the test would be conducted and how it would be scored. It seemed that the test would start on schedule. The air was full of moisture. But still no rain.

Ben's platoon was moving into position to begin the test when he felt the first drop of rain fall on his head.There was one, then another, then several. Soon there were raindrops falling everywhere. The first rain drops were small, but as the minutes passed the size of the drops grew larger until they were some of the largest rain drops Ben had ever seen. As the graders and the platoon stood there watching and feeling the rain the intensity of the rain changed from shower to deluge.

After 20 minutes of torrential rain the PT test was called off, and a soaked training company was marched back to the company area.

Two days later during company formation the company commander informed the trainees that due to the canceled PT test and lack of time in the training cycle to reschedule the test that each man would be given a passing grade.