Of Good Report

During my first week as librarian in the Christian Science Reading Room in Melbourne, Australia, everything electrical went wrong. I had to replace the cassette/CD player, the answering machine, and an exhaust fan.

On October 3, 2010, I found myself in a jail in Los Angeles, California, asking myself how I got there. Everything was so confusing.

The healings of Jesus have uplifted hope for over 2,000 years. But it wasn’t until Mary Baker Eddy discovered the basis on which Jesus healed as “… the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear …” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p.

I have been a Journal subscriber for years but have been remiss in telling you of the gratitude I feel for the work you all do to produce and share such a treasure to bless the world. However, an article in the February Journal by Rosalie Dunbar, “  ‘To lighten mankind’ ,” has prompted me to write this note.

When I was a graduate student in Arizona many years ago, I used to take the Christian Science periodicals with me so I could read them whenever I had any spare time. During one period, however, I would go out and never return home with the magazines.

One morning several years ago, as I studied the Christian Science Bible Lesson for that week on “Sacrament,” I was struck by this citation in the Responsive Reading from Colossians 3:14 : “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. ” I literally couldn’t get past those words.

One snowy winter day I was taking my usual train ride into work, preparing prayerfully for a very busy day ahead. As I hurriedly came out of the train stop, I saw a large crowd of people gathered, so I stopped to see what was going on.

“Work is the reflection of income already received. ” This was the thought that came to me just after I had moved to Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, the seat of the Federal Government.

The Christian Science Journal, in an effort to support Christian Scientists in their prayers for Christianity in general and in their ecumenical activities, wants to bring readers’ attention to a basic ecumenical tool that has been developed—a “Self-Understanding” document. The format of this paper is a familiar one in religious communities, where Self-Understanding documents are standard.

Theres a McDonald’s restaurant near the Los Angeles jail facility where I used to serve as a visiting chaplain in my early days in the public practice of Christian Science. It was a good place for a snack before conducting the church services.