Jeffrey is three years old, and Emily, his playmate, is four and a half. They've discovered our house in the course of expanding their neighborhood world. They've also found our doorbell!
Usually they manage to come up with a vaguely considered but no less compelling reason for appearing at the door. One afternoon recently, I answered the bell and gently asked what they wanted. Jeffrey, who is usually the spokesperson, finally blurted out, after considerable hesitation, "Well . . . we need a question!"
It was an accurate statement. But not the kind you find it easy to respond to. Our family enjoyed passing around Jeffrey's intriguing comment for a few days. Then, gradually, the words took on a new meaning. We began to see how they could be applied to Christian Scientists in their relation to the world at this particular time. Maybe Christian Scientists, too, we said, have "needed a question," an occasion, a focus.
