Gratitude brings to light spiritual reality, the Truth that subdues the lie of evil. It makes us aware of the protective power of divine Love, the source of Christly affection for our fellowman.
Mrs. Eddy writes, "What is gratitude but a powerful camera obscura, a thing focusing light where love, memory, and all within the human heart is present to manifest light." The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 164. Gratitude, our camera obscura, enables us to look beyond the darkness of material sense and see Love's perfect creation. This Christly view of creation, recognized and lived, fulfills our praise to God—especially in church. Church offers such hope for our world. A quiet place for worship, regeneration, healing. But church doesn't just happen! It requires consecrated workers dedicated to the Cause of Christian Science. These unheralded volunteers, unselfishly serving God, provide the edifice and, more important, the uplifting prayer that means so much to those who attend the services. Because of their own healing experiences and their love for God and humanity, church members want others to share their gratitude for God's goodness and love. They serve inconspicuously so that the Word may have full brilliance through the impersonal pastor, the Bible and Science and Health.
The Master, Christ Jesus, devoted his life to heal, redeem, and save mankind. What he did individually, the Church of Christ, Scientist, founded by Mary Baker Eddy, is doing collectively today to meet the physical, moral, spiritual needs of people. God's love for man, expressed so fully by Jesus, is the Christly power that touches and frees mankind from misery and suffering. This love also protects from aggressive mental opposition to spirituality. Animal magnetism, or the evils of the carnal mind, would deny God's goodness and power. Jesus called the devil a liar and the father of the lie, evil.
