My mouth was dry. A shiver ran up my backbone. I was frightened. Seated at a meeting in a local restaurant with fellow retired teachers, I waited for my turn as we went around introducing ourselves and saying what we’re doing now that we’re retired. Then I announced, for the first time to any group, that I am a Christian Science practitioner. I was surprised at how afraid I was to speak up. It took much courage to rally myself to say this out loud in front of so many people—but how great it felt afterward.
What motivated me to speak up? I had been considering what I call the “double beatitude” from Christ Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10–12).
I could not experience harm for expressing Spirit’s good qualities.
