The endeavor to write for the periodicals proceeds from the desire to help our fellowman—to share with others what we've learned, what has meant so much to us. It stems from Christ Jesus' command "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Matt. 10:8.
Surely, we've all had the experience of opening the Christian Science Sentinel or The Christian Science Journal and finding an article that meets our needs. We find we're healed, we've been cleansed of a particular sin, our thought has risen somewhat above the belief in matter and its concomitants, to Life, God, and the wrong thoughts and actions that once tried to engulf us are destroyed. We're then filled with the great desire to give freely—to help others along the pathway of spiritual understanding—to comfort, to heal.
Then comes the moment to sit down and write. But we realize that just wanting to write an article doesn't produce one! Our desire and willingness to contribute to the Christian Science periodicals may be in full gear, but we may fear our ability is lacking. Yet it's not so much an already developed skill that we need as it is a willingness to stick with the commitment to write, and to practice writing, until we express the truth clearly and inspiringly. The ability to do this is given to us by God. Putting metaphysical ideas into writing may not be the easiest task one could embark upon, but it's one of the most spiritually rewarding.
