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I recently watched a YouTube video of a concert with 10,000 people singing Ludwig van Beethoven’s masterful composition “Ode to Joy,” from his Symphony No. 9.

I was a new student of Christian Science, and I didn’t own a computer. Nor did I have any of the reference books that the local Christian Science Reading Rooms offered for loan or sale.

Very near the beginning of her groundbreaking book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy states, “Whatever materializes worship hinders man’s spiritual growth and keeps him from demonstrating his power over error” ( pp. 4–5 ).

Expressing gratitude is a daily occurrence for me. In fact, many people have received a unique response from me to the standard greeting, “How are you?” “I am grateful!” I reply, before asking how they are.

Sharp criticism , harsh indifference, silent hatred, false rumors, or abusive behavior might cross the path of all of us at some point, but they cannot reach or hurt a heart filled with and sustained by God’s love. Whether there’s an issue at work, at home, with a neighbor, in church, or in any other arena, there is the perfect solution.

Seeing ourselves and those in government as we truly are, spiritual expressions of the Mind that is God, sets a high standard and is a vital part of the universal salvation that God will effect because of His own infinite goodness and love.   In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Rome he writes that they should be subject to the authorities, not only to avoid their wrath but for the sake of doing right (see Romans 13:1–7 ).

With my emergence into the study and understanding of Christian Science (see “ The gift of Christmas healing ,” Journal, December 2005), I had significant healings through the help at different times of several fine and inspired Christian Science practitioners. One was a Christian Science teacher who did so much to help me; we’d spend hours talking about the Bible and spirituality.

A few years ago I experienced a dramatic change in my closest relationships. My mother and six of her siblings and/or their spouses passed on in a span of two and a half years.

This author writes, “When we are living God’s love rather than waiting around for love to be shown to us, we need never feel alone, for we are truly companioned by the love of God.”

If you were a Bible scholar and heard the name Abraham, you might think of the patriarch Abraham written of in the Old Testament. If a presidential scholar, Abraham Lincoln might come to mind.