Everyone following Christian Science as a way of life is in the publishing business—publishing salvation in deed and in word. Being a Reading Room librarian is an extension of this publishing work in our community and the world. In my preparatory work as a librarian, I strive to recognize God as the proprietor, governor, and director of this activity. I am also learning, as Moses did, that God "will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." Ex. 4:12. Actively supporting the Reading Room becomes a natural, unwavering, continued pursuit that extends to every contact and does reach our neighbors.
One time, a man came in who had been driving past our Reading Room for over ten years on the way to work, promising himself to go in someday and see what we represent. He was an elder from another church, and he asked me to tell him about Christian Science. And I did, exploring ideas from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. He asked many questions, including one about the Bible phrase "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matt. 28:19. I spoke to him of what I had derived from my study of Science and Health—that the Father represents Life, the Son represents Christ, or Truth, and the Holy Ghost, Love. He loved the explanation. After our talk he said, "I will never again question the place of Christian Science in the world, or the sincerity of its followers."
There are those who come in out of curiosity and who, after an introduction to what Christian Science represents, stay for hours to read and ponder—and be healed. On a Sunday afternoon a woman came in saying she felt God-directed to our location. She and her husband were in town for a meeting, and he had become drunk and verbally abusive. She had to get away, and went out for a walk. I read to her some selections from Science and Health. After two or three hours of reading and praying on her own, she left, expressing gratitude; and buying the book on the way out.
