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In the Bible story of the great prophet Elijah and his disciple Elisha (see II Kings, chapter two ), we’re told that after a long association with each other as teacher and student, it became apparent that the time would soon come for the elder Elijah to make the transition out of earthly experience. At this juncture, Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side despite the prophet’s admonitions to do so.

Poet Jane Kenyon once wrote, “Suddenly, I understand that I am happy” (“The Suitor,” from Otherwise: New and Selected Poems , Graywolf Press, 1997). Recently I, too, learned something deeply spiritual about understanding happiness.

As a Christian Scientist, more than once I’ve asked myself the question, What do I have in common with my neighbors who are not Christian Scientists? Surprisingly, the answer that comes to me is—Everything! Doesn’t he or she desire to love, to be loved, to find happiness, to feel safe, to have an active, purposeful life? Another question: Do our friends, acquaintances, and neighbors identify one another as non-Lutheran, non-Catholic, non-Presbyterian, or perhaps, as non-believers? Maybe. Do we ourselves ever identify others as non-Christian Scientists? A question of more significance is: Does God define any of us by our religion? Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, wrote: “God is universal; confined to no spot, defined by no dogma, appropriated by no sect.

A new “Urgent Care” clinic recently opened up in a shopping plaza we pass on our way to church. The sign has good visibility from the highway, as well as in the shopping plaza itself.

Several years ago I went on what bicyclists refer to as a “double century”—a one-day 200-mile bicycle ride. Although I did not know any of the hundreds of other participants, I suspected I’d be among the slowest.

As manager of Bible Lesson Products,   Christian Harder and his team are responsible for producing editions in ten different languages in Boston, and they have editorial oversight of licensed production for about 20 other languages.   When he was asked how the team feels about the responsibility for producing “a lesson on which the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends,” ( Manual of The Mother Church, p.

I feel I did not become a member of The Mother Church the day I filled out the forms, or even on the day I was officially accepted. I had really become a member in my heart much earlier.

I became a member of The Mother Church in November 2011, and I am so excited to have made this commitment. It has helped me feel more a part of something that I care so deeply about.

I just love this passage in the Bible: “The trees of the Lord are full of sap” ( Psalms 104:16 ). It inspired me to think about such a “tree”—created by God, “full of sap”—full of all the needed nutriments to make it healthy and flourishing.

Last year a devastating event occurred. Standing in line at a place of business, I received a phone call informing me that my daughter had just been shot while attending to her duties as an elected official.