Would you resign from a committee of one? I nearly did. I felt I had received too much criticism and too little appreciation. A committee of one sounds ideal—no other minds to make decisions, no other opinions to poll. I found, though, that others still felt they could be generous with criticism and unsought advice. It got to be too much! I needed help fast. I had to pray.
After we join a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, we look forward to participating in committee work. Whether we are new members because Christian Science has just come into our lives or because we have relocated, we eagerly anticipate getting to know our new church family, putting Science into practice, contributing to an institution that has blessed us, and, most of all, sharing our love for God. Whether appointed to the committee of our choice or asked to fill some other need, we generally accept the assignment with the best of motives, knowing we will receive the added blessing of spiritual growth.
Often committee work progresses smoothly, and the day-to-day operation of the church continues easily. But sometimes it seems that right where good is most active, evil, or animal magnetism, would claim to be. Even a difference of opinion over a practical matter, such as lecture invitation design or renovation of some part of the building, could attempt to displace harmony with discord, unity of purpose with conflicting personalities, gratitude with pride. Suddenly egotism and human will are sitting around the table with us—invisible but not silent. We hear their murmurings: "He wants to . . ." "She thinks . . ." and we murmur back, "If that's the way they want it, they can do it without me "
