I generally go to the movies early enough to catch the previews of forthcoming attractions. I like doing so for two reasons. First, I may occasionally see a movie advertised that I can add to my list of films to catch later on. Second, there are many movies that I'm not going to see but that show off their best action scenes during the previews!
What would happen if people could see excerpts from a forthcoming Christian Science church service previewed in the same way? Even with the best editing in the world, it is hard to imagine making a church service look as compelling as a blockbuster movie! Compared to an action-packed Hollywood show, it might be thought to lack star power and drama. And considering the inclination of human thought to want to be passively entertained through the material senses, we might conclude that church services are fighting an uphill battle.
Looking at it another way, though, we find hope and encouragement. Considering things from a spiritual perspective illumines the fact that what is generally thought of as entertaining is often distracting rather than deeply satisfying. Distractions can have momentary value. They can soothe us by lifting thought from the daily routine or by helping us to forget more demanding challenges for a while. Yet distractions—no matter how dramatic—cannot heal. God's love heals, and not just by diverting thought away from self-concern, but by directing consciousness into the recognition and realization of divine reality. As a hymn says of God, "Thy presence healeth me." Christian Science Hymnal, No. 151.
