Editorials

Opening a new calendar, full of untouched pages, represents a fresh start, an open door to progress. At such a time, people often give themselves permission to release what’s come before and move expectantly into the unwritten next chapter of their lives—and the world.

My favorite moments of recent Christmases have occurred in the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Day. In the silent stillness, accompanied only by the twinkling lights from the Christmas tree, it’s easy to feel the power of the Christ-spirit that is at the heart of the sacredness of the season.

November has been transformed for me since the teachings of Christian Science led me to love the Bible. This used to be the month in which winter, which was my least favorite season, began to set in.

I had followed protocol exactly, gotten my documents in on time, and watched as they’d worked their way through the process. Yet, my plane ticket to leave was for the following day, and I still didn’t have the required visa for the country where I was supposed to travel.

One morning not too long ago, a relative and I were discussing the latest news concerning the coronavirus pandemic, and I asked him how he was dealing with it. Looking at him, it was clear he was gripped with fear.

There’s an old (and surprisingly true) story that goes like this. A man comes to New York City for the first time, looking to buy some real estate as an investment.

The first thing I noticed when I began to study the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, was that I began to have new insights into the nature of God. As I thought deeply about these new insights, God became more real to me—as infinite Spirit—and matter less real.

What’s worse than finding out you were wrong about something? Learning it was something you were “certain” you were right about! But apart from the discomfort of an appropriately bruised ego, shouldn’t we actually feel joy in those moments when mistakes and ignorance are replaced by insight and wisdom? Don’t we all welcome a progressive sense that enables humanity to leave behind limitations and discover how empowering a grasp of genuine truth is? Otherwise, we’d all still be living in a world where people believed the sun revolved around the earth, just because it looks like it on the surface of things. One of my favorite quotes has always been T.

The author notes that “when we are in need of healing or are asked to pray for someone else, it helps to know that divine Love is right here to inspire, uplift, and heal.”

The Christian celebration of Easter honors the resurrection of Jesus, the ultimate model of all that is good. The significance of Jesus overcoming death, near the close of his human experience of healing and redeeming humanity through his words and works, connects today to our natural yearning to rise out of hopelessness to a state of peace and salvation.