I recently completed a three-year term as First Reader at my branch Church of Christ, Scientist. The First Reader conducts the main part of the Sunday service each week as well as the Wednesday evening testimony meetings. Duties for the Sunday service include choosing hymns, the Scriptural Selection, and the benediction in addition to reading the portion of the weekly Bible Lesson that’s from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. For Wednesday testimony meetings, the First Reader prepares readings from the Bible and Science and Health on a relevant topic and selects appropriate hymns. In the weeks before my church’s election meeting three years ago, I worried about whether I really had the time to serve and whether I could find the inspiration to prepare readings and the Scriptural Selection each week if I were elected.
I was putting a mortal limit on a spiritual pursuit.
Many thoughts came to me suggesting that I didn’t have time, particularly to serve as First Reader: “You have a full-time job with evening activities”; “You have three kids at home to nurture and guide”; “The kids have evening events.” At first it was intimidating. But in Science and Health, part of the spiritual definition of time in the Glossary is this: “Mortal measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, knowledge; …” (p. 595).
I began to realize that by thinking I didn’t have enough time, I was putting a mortal limit on a spiritual pursuit. Mrs. Eddy’s definition reminded me that if I was devoting myself to study of the Bible and Science and Health, immersed in spiritual understanding and prayer, nothing but good could unfold, and I would be able to do everything I needed to do and not be a slave of time. The most tempting suggestion was simply, “There are only so many hours in a day.” Then I realized I was defining day incorrectly—materially. In her metaphysical definition of day, referring to God as Mind, Mrs. Eddy writes, in part, “… Mind measures time according to the good that is unfolded” (Science and Health, p. 584). Rather than measure my days by hours, I needed to measure my days by the good that was unfolding. Being a Reader would certainly unfold much good!
I remembered that every time in my life that I had stopped to listen for God’s direction, I found the right answer. One of Mrs. Eddy’s poems begins, “Shepherd, show me how to go / O’er the hillside steep” (Poems, p. 14). This helped to remind me that the need is always to listen for spiritual guidance. And in regard to inspiration, “my cup runneth over,” to use the Psalmist’s words. So the need would be to listen to the one infinite divine Mind for inspiration rather than to work to find it within a limited human mentality.
Sure enough, all the arguments against reading turned out to be based on mortal, material limitations. When I realized that, I was able to shed them and focus instead on what I would gain from deep study of the Bible and the works of Mrs. Eddy. Shortly thereafter I was elected First Reader, and what an amazing benefit it was!
I needed to measure my days by the good that was unfolding.
As a result of being willing to serve, I have enjoyed three of the best years of my life, with much good unfolding, and I have learned many wonderful additional lessons about time. I recently returned from a trip abroad with my two younger children. We heard from so many people about “jet lag” and the impact of the time changes that might keep us from getting enough rest, fully enjoying the trip, or adjusting when we returned home. We heard that there was a formula for how many days it would take us to adjust. However, we stuck to the spiritual concept of time as Mind’s measurement of “the good that is unfolded.” The entire trip went smoothly. No adjustments were needed on either end of the trip, to the amazement of many of our friends who are not Christian Scientists.
Immersing myself in the spiritual preparation for reading—daily, weekly—for the past three years has helped me put off limitations harmoniously. In fact, both the Second Reader and I were surprised to find how much we wanted to read a third year. (At our branch church the term is set for two years, with the option for a third.) I can only look back with joy that my initial fears were unable to keep me from fulfilling such a divinely inspired and rewarding purpose, with so many ancillary blessings for me and my family.
