When we decided on our topic last week a number of us were depressed over some problems that seemed to stick.  As we departed, there was a sense of impasses impenetrable against which we'd launch some mortar shells of truth and have some crumbs to share at our next session.

Well, as the week unfolded, some of us discovered anew Mrs. Eddy's rich sense of irony and paradox, not to mention humor, in  handling error and shared this with others.    By the time the meeting rolled around, we were in the mood for a romp - a rollicking good outpouring of blessings and healing.

Sitting in a Wednesday testimony meeting at a local branch church, one of our members had a spiritual awakening as the Lesson read from the desk indicated the huge difference between the evaluation of a case by a matter physician and by a metaphysician.  He was able to see this truth in various fields now troubling the world and invented new words like meta-economist, meta-diplomat, meta-politician or meta-theologian to alert him as to how a student of Christian Science should look at, say, the world economy, the Iraq situation, the Washington scene or the factions in our own movement.  In order for healing to occur in Science, he could see clearly that a shift from matter-based to Spirit-based apprehension is required.  This breakthrough was most helpful in working with our topic.

A number of  insights were reported; the following statements should give a flavor of these insights:

• A big persistent problem indicates the  infinite persistence of perfection
• Whatever seems to be, perfectly Is.
• A fault finder cannot be a Fact finder.
• Error is mortal mind's statement of Truth.
• Live as reflection of God, not as dualistic person.
• The strength and persistence of Spirit is all that is indicated by a long standing problem. (See Science and Health, pg. 293:21-31)
• Mortal mind applying Christian Science to a  problem can actually increase the strength of  and faith in that dualistic mind, thereby locking in the problem.    Treatment needs more the sense of meekness, surrender and listening. (See Naaman's experience of being healed of leprosy at II Kings 5:1-3, 9-14.)
• Here are a couple of statements from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy which also support these insights:
• "Science reverses the false testimony of the physical senses, and by this reversal mortals arrive at the fundamental facts of being," (120:7-9).
• "The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares," (574:27-30).

Healings:

One member secured significant insight into a long standing problem of romantic and sexual attraction to unavailable and/or abusive men.  He had already been aware of childhood incest - both emotional and physical - but a recent movie called Billy's Hollywood Kiss, together with the ads taken out by religious  fanatics contending that all homosexuality is the result of incest, alerted him to the need to find a way out of this superfluous encrustation upon his natural homosexual orientation.   His perpetrators were homophobic heterosexuals by the way.  As a student of Christian Science, he could not see himself as based in either human genetics or nurturance - he is the image of God including all right ideas.  He was happy to note during the week that he was turned on by a man in a very new, natural, even "clean" way indicating to him some advance out of what he now sees as a distorted/tortured heterosexist overlay upon his natural desires.  Thank you Pat Robertson!

Another member, resting on Truth, found the courage to speak up when a professional seemed to be overbilling and the stability to stick with it through threats of resignation to land the relationship finally on a firmer basis.

Another member, feeling the power of Truth and Love, was able to confront union leadership on its racism in not promoting minorities.  He did so in a large public meeting, and the union leaders had to agree to changes in policy, now being implemented.

Another member found himself speculating as to which of two men he was attracted to he would prefer to date.  He then remembered what a Christian Science teacher once said, "I just love".  He could see that rather than go down a checklist of traits or qualities he could just reflect Love and let this practice lead on to proper human action.

Another member recalled how he was healed of sexual anorexia as fear was lifted by attending a very robust Christian Science lecture given by a woman from Northern Ireland.

There was some discussion as to how to find a therapist if one wanted to explore his or her emotional issues.  While such a question seemed out of place to some members, others saw it very much in the light of the earlier testimonies about dating or relationships.  After all, any relationship will help us explore our emotions, and much else, so why approach this any differently?  Understand one's total divinity and go forward!

Our topic for next week on Healing Political and Religious Homophobia seemed to cry out from the headlines this week - the Anglican Communion voting in such an lopsided way to support bigotry and our elected representatives in the  nation's capital, spending our money to deliver a message of hate to Gay and Lesbian Americans.  So let's have a good time, perhaps seeing with our Leader that the pride of priesthood is the prince of this world  (see Science and Health, pg. 270:22-23).  What world?  Tune in next week.