Letters to the Editor

A welcomed view of volunteering What a refreshing experience to open the July Journal to "The new spirit of volunteering"! Often one hears the view expressed that Christian Scientists and their local churches are fulfilling their spiritual obligation to help their neighbor by supporting the Reading Room, literature distribution, care committee, and lectures; leave the community outreach for other needs to other churches and individuals. Your piece on volunteering beautifully shows the way to serve both the spiritual and human needs of one's community and experience the joys of personal fulfillment.

Fair Trade products and good government I really enjoyed the recent issue focusing on "Government that benefits everyone" [May 2004], particularly Richard A. Nenneman's article, "Humanity at the crossroads" [p.

Beauty that comes from God What a good article in the March Journal, "Qualities of beauty that touch the heart" [p. 40].

Images can speak any language I want to thank you for the photograph on the front of the March issue. It shows an Afghan woman driving an asphalt roller to pave a street in Kabul.

Gratitude for "Looking Back, Looking Forward" series What an incredible issue [February]. I am so inspired and uplifted by all of the wonderful sharing in this Journal, from relationship problems to head injuries to handling beliefs about age.

Journal's "reporting" on Jesus' healings I just received the February Journal. Looking through it, I turned to the article "A 'reporter's' perspective on Jesus' healings" [p.

Personal help from December article Thank you so much for publishing the healing article by Lesley Gort [see December, pp. 18—19].

Relating to 'today's (not yesterday's) seekers' What's heartening about the October 2003 Journal —and every other issue of the Journal and its sister, the Christian Science Sentinel, of late—is that the publishers, editors, and writers keep making one point abundantly clear. Namely, that the scientific system of spiritual healing called Christian Science was never meant to be clutched tightly by a denomination or practiced solely—much less secretly—by dyed-in-the-wool adherents.

October issue In your lead story [see October, pp. 6–8], the interviewee says, "Many women [in Indonesia] carry heavy loads of firewood or vegetables to the market in slings on their backs.

Christian Science practice and healing I really enjoyed the articles that focused on Christian Science treatment in the July issue. They were encouraging and inspiring for me in my journey toward the practice.