A LOVING RESPONSE
I was so pleased to receive the February issue of The Christian Science Journal yesterday. As I was flipping the pages, I noticed the Questions & Answers column from the Clerk’s Office on page 38 dealing with various sexual relationships and the Church’s “position” about them. I must say that this is the finest, most gracious, loving, and inspired response to the issue that I’ve ever read. We are so blessed!
Boston, Massachusetts, US
THE VALUE OF SUBSCRIBING
I was so pleased that the Board of Trustees of The Christian
Science Publishing Society took the time to bring us all up to date on the
progress and goals for the periodicals in their interview, “Publishing
Truth’s message for all humanity,” in the January 2014 Journal. It was an
excellent, honest interview about the steps that have been taken, and the
steps still needed, to advance the circulation of all forms of our
periodicals, including the online venues.
I liked Linda Kohler’s point about what the word subscribe
includes. It is not only the monetary aspect but, more important, the
mental aspect of subscribing to the ideas in the periodicals—saying that
you agree with them, and will live them.
In reading Mary Baker Eddy’s By-Law in the Church Manual on
page 44, this is the way that I’ve always read it: “It shall be the privilege
and duty of every member, who can afford it [each Christian Science member
knowing that all supply constantly comes from God, is able and willing to
afford it], to subscribe for the periodicals which are the organs of this
Church ….” The organs! And we all know that the organs keep the
body of Church alive!
My mother always subscribed to all the periodicals—and read them. She was
an elementary school teacher and frequently used the ideas from
them in teaching her classes. While I was in school, from elementary
through college, if I needed to do a report on say, current events, or
geography, or science, or really almost any subject, I would look through
The Christian Science Monitor and always find some article or series that
would be perfect on which to base my report (and I generally got a good
grade on it!). The in-depth reporting and well-written articles have a much
higher perspective than all other newspapers and magazines.
The Sentinels and Journals are so worth the time it takes to
read them, too. It may seem as though you don’t have the time to sit down and
read them, but the blessings and ideas you gather from them actually help
you do that list of things you have to do! And you do all your
activities with more intelligence, and in a more organized manner—and
get them all done in plenty of time! Putting the periodicals first in your
life is putting God first, which we all need to do, all of the time. I
love the periodicals in all their forms. They bring me such joy and
healing!
Atlanta, Georgia, US
‘JUST WONDERFUL’
The periodicals are just wonderful. The January 2014 Journal has an interesting article from the Trustees on how to keep the periodicals strong and progressive. “I want you to read them [the periodicals] and do so with a critical thought.” The quote is from Mrs. Eddy in We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Expanded Edition, Volume II. She goes on to say, “… the educated thought that silently corrects is helping to improve them, and it is your duty to do this” (p. 303).
In reading “A past redeemed” (name withheld) in the same issue, I felt the need to follow it up with studying the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. I especially studied the chapter on spiritualism called, “Christian Science versus Spiritualism.”
Thank you, dear author, whoever you are, for your courage to face this experience with spiritual investigation and successfully conclude with the spiritual idea of existence. It will help so many who may be in the belief of lost innocence and will help them recover from the false sense of permanent condemnation that is offered in scholastic theology.
‘DRIVEWAY MOMENTS’
I listen to National Public Radio in my car. They occasionally refer to “driveway moments,” when the listener waits to hear the end of a segment before turning off the car radio. Today I would like to tell you about my “driveway moments” with the Christian Science Sentinel, the Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Herald of Christian Science, which stretch beyond moments into half-hours and hours.
As I pull out of my garage on my way to an appointment or errand, I stop at my mailbox to pick up my mail. Before driving on, I open the Sentinel, or the Journal, or the Herald, or the Monitor, if one of them is in the mailbox, and once I start reading I cannot put it down! My driveway moments are thought-provoking, compelling, inspiring, healing—and sometimes even tear-filled (these are tears of just plain gratitude for yet another proof of God’s love).
So thanks to you and each of the contributors who make our publications the power for good they are. I value the depth and content of the articles, the guidance of the editorials, the awesome healings, and the love and care and beauty that permeate each page and issue. My “driveway moments” are so much more than moments. They are precious to me, and they are filled with my heartfelt thanks to you all.
Denver, Colorado, US
