Overcoming grief
After reading the letter from E.S. in Florida, regarding the poem "God's lovely likeness," I am prompted to write about a healing I had after reading that poem in the July 1992 issue of The Christian Science Journal, in which it was originally published.
I received a telephone call one afternoon, announcing that my brother had died a short time before, and I was asked to contact brothers and sisters overseas. I found myself saying, "Oh, my lovely brother!" I could not get a clear thought, and I called out to God for help. I was led to pick up that Journal and skimmed through the table of contents. My eye fell on the word lovely and I turned to Thomas Poyser's poem.
I read the first line and was filled with wonder. I felt the Father's presence right there beside me, enclosing me in warmth and love. Each line had the same effect, and I drank in that wonderful message. I have never felt so close to God. I knew I was healed of shock and grief. I was able to put the necessary calls through and gently tell my family.
Like the letter writer, I have passed that poem on to many people in need, and it has always been received with much gratitude. Wellington, New Zealand
Noah's ark
My little grandson, who is just learning to put his thoughts into sentences, was standing in front of a carved wooden model of Noah's ark with all the animals on the deck, poking their heads from the windows. My grandson correctly said, "Noah's ark," and then he looked into the little door and asked, "Where is the baby Jesus?" I laughed to myself and explained to him the difference between the ark and the manger.
Imagine my surprise when I saw the piece in last December's Journal entitled "'Happy Christmas to you,'" and the speaker's finding early and subtle foreshadowings of the coming Christmas story in the Noah account. Millsboro, Delaware (via e-mail)
Faith healing
I was uncomfortable with the use of the term faith healing in the report "'The questions came thick and fast'" in the November 1998 Journal. It mentioned that college and medical students who come to hear talks about Christian Science "especially appreciate that Christian Science healing isn't just faith healing or a special gift that only a few people have." Is this not rather self-righteous...? I do understand the difference between blind faith and true, accepting faith in God and the teachings of His beloved Son, but I would very much like you to speak to this in some way. I so appreciate all the good the Christian Science publications do. Mine get passed on to eager hands. Los Angeles, California
Editor's note: In this conversational piece, the speaker was reporting on what she had heard from others. Yet we could have explained for readers the difference in meaning that the term faith healing often has for the general public in contrast with the teaching of Christian Science that health is an invariable condition of God's creation, which can be reliably demonstrated through an understanding of divine law. We'll look for opportunities to do this in future.
