After a very disagreeable relationship with a member of another Christian Science church, for years I avoided attending any joint church events such as lectures or meetings where I could possibly see this individual. I knew this was wrong, but didn’t make the effort to pray about it.
One day when I was studying the Manual of The Mother Church, I read Article XXIII, Section 12, regarding eligibility for a church or society to be listed in The Christian Science Journal. The By-Law states that all said churches and societies are “required to acknowledge as such all other Christian Science churches and societies advertised . . . and to maintain toward them an attitude of Christian fellowship” (p. 74). That woke me up! I truly wanted to live in Christian fellowship with all church members, no matter where I was. I immediately began to see the spiritual qualities that this other individual expressed, and I found myself forgiving him and myself for believing that man can be anything but God’s reflection. A heavy weight was lifted off me.
Later that day, in a way that only divine Love could provide, we came face to face with each other, shook hands, and chatted like the good friends we had always been.
