'One pure white tile'
I’m writing to thank the Journal for publishing James Spencer’s article called “The Christian Science Nurse” in the August issue. I especially liked the example of the “one pure white tile.”
This example and the other ideas in the article helped me during a recent experience. I saw that keeping the pure truth in my thought kept me calm and helped me rejoice in each truth, each “counter fact” (see Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 233) that came to me. This alleviated the situation I was facing and I’m thankful.
Manchester, Connecticut, US
Giving—a privilege, not an obligation
Very deep gratitude for Lyon Osborn’s article “Heartfelt Gratitude—Gifts of Love” in the September issue.
As we unite in keeping The Mother Church financially strong, we ensure the continued publication of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy in 17 languages, a book which teaches mankind to heal as Jesus healed. This promised Comforter is worth preserving for the world. Yearly giving to the Church is a privilege, not an obligation.
Thank you, Mother Church, for being there.
Highlands Ranch, Colorado, US
How a healing team works
I felt like I was “brought up to par” by Anna Lisa Kronman’s article in the September Journal. “The Michael/Gabriel Model” was a such a clearly articulated explanation of how a Christian Science practitioner and a Christian Science nurse work as partners in healing.
Relating the collaboration to Mary Baker Eddy’s explanation in Science and Health of the roles of the angels Michael and Gabriel made it all fit together perfectly and gave me a clearer, more substantial idea of how that “healing team” operates.
I was tempted to “pass” on this article, but I’m sure glad I “gave it a tumble”! It elevated my image of a Christian Science nurse. My thanks to the author.
Sacramento, California, US
Daily unfoldments
A particular question in the September issue of the Journal’s “Your Questions and Answers” from a reader in Nigeria concerning reading of the Christian Science Bible Lessons encourages me to include an observation of my own.
I am always astonished how each time I read the weekly Lesson, even sometimes more than once a day, I perceive a deeper layer or additional enlightenment. It is almost as if the previous reading and consequential meditation prepare me for the next reading and insights.
It has not been an unusual thought on my part, after a couple of days of reading, studying, and contemplation, that I wonder if this was the very same text I had read the day before? And/or, “Wow, how could I have missed this? This is exactly what I need!”
Tucson, Arizona, US
'Healing of paramount importance'
The content of the two contributions in “Saving a Church” in the September Journal is a challenge to any member of a branch church or society. The situations described by the writers are familiar.
Closing Christian Science societies and churches in my country, I feel, has contributed to a loss of visibility of our religion and of its healing impact on society. Too many people don’t know what Christian Science healing represents and don’t even know that Christian Science exists. A church in a town is a landmark which shows that Christian Science exists.
Needless to say that “healing” is of paramount importance to the survival of our churches and societies.
Founex, Switzerland
Fishing insights
As usual, I thoroughly enjoy each Journal, and it feels like some articles were written just for me.
Lu Ann Condon’s “Insight” in the September issue on “ ‘Gone Fishing Today’ ” was very refreshing.
Both of Lu Ann’s lists of “fishing requirements”—those for “fishers of fish” and those for “fishers of ‘men’ ”—will remain with me for future “fishing.” Specifically her “fishers of ‘men’ ” will be particularly helpful for my many other activities, with a Christian Science perspective.
Ellijay, Georgia, US
Unique unfoldings
I very much appreciate the “Your Questions and Answers” columns in the Journal. In particular, the recent questions and responses to Ginny Luedeman and Don Griffith about eating animal flesh were of great interest to me.
As a non-American and one holding political views quite different from American norms, I frequently disagree with many views expressed in the Christian Science publications. However, I am slowly starting to see a much deeper meaning to the biblical injunction to “work out your own salvation.”
Mary Baker Eddy refers to “working out the problem of being.” She uses an illustration of a mathematical equation written on a blackboard, asking who would stand there in front of that equation, praying for the principle of mathematics to solve the problem? “The rule is already established, and it is our task to work out the solution” (Science and Health, p. 3).
Might we then reason that each human life can be compared to that equation, while remembering that every equation is unique? No one life-challenge is going to be exactly identical to the next person’s. Then, of necessity, neither is the solution!
When it comes to a question such as vegetarianism versus meat consumption, if memory serves me correctly, both Jesus and Paul counselled their very strict Jewish disciples to have no controversy over food. In such matters, I am seeing that I simply must turn to God to find out what is appropriate for me to do.
To go a step further, I particularly applaud Barbara Vining’s comments in the September Journal, especially when she states: “We’re really evangelizing our own thought—letting the Christ transform our concept of ourselves and others to a true representation of what God and man really are.” So, I do not speculate whether the unfolding truth in my thought will make a vegetarian out of me or not. (On that point, anything is possible.)
That goes for many other of life’s controversies. Very slowly, I am learning that all the questions (and disputes) of this life and how Christian Science theology responds to them were very nicely answered in Barbara’s interview quoted above when she said: “What Christian Science healing is, is yielding to the Divine.”
It seems to me that how that yielding unfolds in each individual’s consciousness will be unique—ultimately free of dispute with other views which, in an infinite creation, may be quite different than our own views.
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
