LETTERS

Relating to 'today's (not yesterday's) seekers'

What's heartening about the October 2003 Journal—and every other issue of the Journal and its sister, the Christian Science Sentinel, of late—is that the publishers, editors, and writers keep making one point abundantly clear. Namely, that the scientific system of spiritual healing called Christian Science was never meant to be clutched tightly by a denomination or practiced solely—much less secretly—by dyed-in-the-wool adherents. Rather, the message of the Science of God, good, and its messenger, Science and Health, were designed by Founder and author Mary Baker Eddy to be spread far and wide.

Stephen T. Gray reminds us of this fact in his sparkling editorial [pp. 61–62], where he describes one motivation of grateful, love-filled Christians as "the desire to pass [Jesus' message] on to those who don't [already understand it]." Similarly, people healed by Mrs. Eddy or by reading her textbook in the late 1800s and early 1900s fairly shouted their good news from the rooftops and handed out Science and Health like hotcakes.

Today we have wonderful good-news sharers like the University of Cincinnati's Sean Weaver [pp. 40–41]. Fellow students are reaping the benefits of his unselfishness, his out-of-the-box ideas and his right-on realization that in order to be the metaphysical center for the campus, the Christian Science organization has got to be "a part of the broader campus community." Such willingness to relate to today's (not yesterday's) seekers of Truth is key to overcoming the fear of change and the fear of sharing that hamstring some traditionalists.

When I finished the October Journal, I picked up a tiny pamphlet called "The Presidents of Princeton University." I wasn't sure why, until I read the opening line of the introduction: "Tradition is like a river, it must constantly be renewed, or it grows stagnant."

Susan Hill Clay
Houston, Texas

Articles that meet a specific need

In what appears to be a dark, troubled world, gems of illumination sparkle from articles published in the Journal "Global fears or family fears? Lean on God," printed in the November Journal, was such an article [p. 26]. Desmond Hill packaged it in brevity, which is appealing. Although I began reading it to eliminate a sudden fear, which was expunged, the message quickly moved me beyond my welfare and impelled me to pray for the welfare of the world. I look forward to the arrival of each Journal, to the inspiring, instructive articles.

Beverly Erickson
St. Paul, Minnesota

The Journal is always filled with inspiring articles, always meeting the needs of its readers, helping us on our spiritual journey. I was particularly inspired by the November 2003 issue. The articles in Frontlines are superb. I was especially awed by "Asking in His name" by Lois Carlson [pp. 12–13], because I could relate to her challenge and follow the footsteps to her demonstration and healing. I was also touched by the Christian humility I felt as I studied this article. Please continue broadening the scope of the wonderful work being done for all mankind.

Genevieve Bogert
Toms River, New Jersey

Journal readers from afar

Your articles on the translation of Science and Health and other Christian Science literature into different languages were of deep interest to me. [See the September issue, for example.] Up in the mountains in my part of the Philippines are scattered groups of individuals, some of whom are semiliterate in English. The Christian Science Quarterly Weekly Bible Lessons are translated for them into one of the common vernaculars.

After so many years of translating, I had often wondered if all efforts in bringing God's Word to them were worthwhile. My prayer was answered very recently when one of the members purposely came up to the city to testify how the translations were helping him and his group members in their search for spirituality.

It warmed my heart to hear him quote verbatim a translated passage in Science and Health: "As a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being" (Science and Health, p. 361). He added how beautifully the quotation pointed out man's oneness with God. He said, too, that the translations bring out man's real identity as being spiritual and of God as being real and tangible. Then he pleaded that the translations of the Bible Lessons go on.

After the Wednesday service, I had to leave immediately, so I had no time to socialize with those who came to church. As I was waiting for my ride, that same testifier ran across the street to where I was. He handed me a bag of fragrant red native rice—all husked, winnowed, and hand-milled—which when cooked is a delicacy. Truly his heartfelt gratitude couldn't be measured ....

Ella Fianza Grande
Baguio City Philippines

The war is over now in my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. And I'm still in the combat zone, Mbandaka, where I've been assigned for four years. During this time the post office couldn't work properly. However, my Christian Science periodicals reached me, though with delay. But the message in them was never delayed.

The July issue of the Journal came in late October this year. Many thanks to the editors for the sequence of the articles, as they are all selected to guide any Christian healer. I felt a particular impact and I found a guideline in decision-making when I read the article "Spiritual healing: a conversation with Judith Woyka" [pp. 29—31].

It states, among other things: "... if somebody wants to start out by being a healer, they can start now"; "... start by working for the world"; "... your office is with you wherever you are." I consider this idea to be useful to others and to comply with the order of the Master, Christ Jesus, to go into all the world and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Leonard Ngala Mulume
Mbandaka Democratic Republic of Congo