Articles

Looking at the headlines, one has to ask: Can entrenched beliefs, self-interest, fear, yield through peaceful means to the claims of divine justice and divine Love? Can systems that institutionalize racial prejudice and discrimination be changed without a resort to violence? Is it wrong to hope against hope in today's world? No, it's not wrong. It's essential.

Often when we've completed a certain type of work, it's helpful to look back and consider what we've learned. This is particularly true when the duties we've finished have been in the service of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

"I, Mary Baker Eddy, ordain the Bible, and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Pastor over The Mother Church,—The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass. ,—and they will continue to preach for this Church and the world.

A recent television special focused on a plight rather commonplace today— that of the longtime employee forced out of work for a variety of reasons. In some cases changing technology brings with it the elimination of jobs that previously had been central to an organization's operation.

An understanding of man's spiritual preexistence is essential to the clear recognition of his immortal identity. For us to discern the glorious continuity of being, it is not sufficient to recognize that existence continues after what is called death.

The world today is struggling with many problems. It is suffering the birth pangs of a developing third world as well as the inequities of our already developed world.

In a world that seems filled with those who abuse the rights and privileges of others, the command given by Christ Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" may seem to be a monumental, if not an impossible, task. He expected us to obey this command, and he certainly left a great example for us, even while he was on the cross, by forgiving those who crucified him! And what was the reason he gave for doing this? "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.

The Christmas season is a time for joy, a time when people come together in unity and peace, commemorating the birth and life of our Saviour, Christ Jesus. But despite all that the season stands for, there are many people who find not harmony and peace, not the presence of the Christ, but a feeling of alienation, loneliness, and depression.

Have you ever found yourself waiting for circumstances to change in order to be about our Father's business? Waiting for "appropriate" ways of serving good in the undefined future—that never-never land of what might be, hopes to be, plans to be, but isn't now? If so, doesn't this show a deep need to recognize and respond to the demand now to be just what the Christ shows us we are—the directed, purposeful, active, fulfilled, ever-complete expression of God's being? Waiting and mulling over in our thought how we would like to serve God better would keep us from seeing all the good we can do right now. But recognizing the nature of spiritual being helps us see daily the ways we can and do serve good.

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I," Ps. 61:2.