Our group chose not to have a fixed topic for the week, so quite a variety of insights and demonstrations arose. Reporting on these was somewhat limited by our ongoing concern over the upsurge of passions that occurred two weeks ago.

The readings were meant to address the struggle. It is clear that deep issues are involved, because every time we think they're safely out of the way they seem to flare up again. The surface looks like fear, anger, avoidance. Some of us rush in to referee, patterning roles in dysfunctional homes. One could hardly call it a pleasant experience but it is revelatory. Pep talks and peacemaking forays seem valueless. The best we seem able to do is quietly pray and offer comfort to those suffering — all of us, if the truth be known. Basically, we just keep on keeping on.

As noted before, our problem is a microcosm of the much grander struggles within such diverse institutions as The Mother Church, the U. S. Government, various churches and their Gay and Lesbian policies, the Middle East, etc. Indeed, any human relationship, if it is close and important, will partake of human love/hate that desperately needs translation into the divine. Those who might derive some pleasure from sitting on the sidelines and watching us slug it out might have better employment working along with us to distill the divine energies just at hand and using them in their own relationships and world work.

One member reported an interesting exchange with a woman at a Wednesday testimony meeting. She had read this from Science and Health as a treatment for the impeachment trial: "It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established." (pg. 467:9-13) He had also given a testimony, reported last week in our notes, about his healing insight into how God was seeing Himself in the medical observation a relative was undergoing. After the meeting they talked and saw clearly that the trial could be taken out of the hands of mortal mind and placed in the court of Spirit with God alone "investigating/judging" Himself. Love is reflecting Love. He felt this way of seeing would be a boost for our own group's spirits and those of other institutions in difficulty. In watching the Senate, he constantly reminds himself to work for unity, for good feeling — not just for this side or that to win.

We had some discussion about what an "...offense..against God" is (see Miscellaneous Writings, pg. 224:27), and whether we should be upset by it. The quickest way to describe such an offense seemed "a belief in matter" i. e., dualistic causes and effects. That's pretty straightforward, but what of the belief in good, or the belief we're doing someone good. These would be somewhat less than helpful unless fully back-stopped by the understanding that such "speaking to be heard of men" is just language for God alone being good and doing good. As for us getting hot and bothered about someone's offense, might that not just leave us as the blind leading the blind. It seemed better to us to see Reality where the offense claims existence.

This statement came up: "Either here or hereafter, suffering or Science must destroy all illusions regarding life and mind, and regenerate material sense and self." (Science and Health, pg. 296:6-9) We agreed that some suffering is inevitable in human living and shows us where we're not living Science fully. But the Science is always just at hand to be lived. Some endorsed the idea of dying daily, of "crucifixionettes" rather than big jolts from time to time — sort of like the San Andreas fault slipping along daily rather than getting locked and building up pressure.

One member reported working on the belief in age after spending some time with younger people he fancied were having a better life than he. Initially he harrumphed away his discomfort on the basis that he was wiser and and more serene than they but eventually realized he needed to treat this in Science. He went to: "The universe, like man, is to be interpreted by Science from its divine Principle, God, and then it can be understood; but when explained on the basis of physical sense and represented as subject to growth, maturity, and decay, the universe, like man, is, and must continue to be, an enigma." (Science and Health, pg. 124:14-19) He saw age, whether youth or old age, as unreal in Science. All good proceeds form God, to and as man.

Thus beauty, grace, wisdom, probity, color, shape etc. are all God ideas reflected by one and all. Even that old timely shibboleth of "Science" called "experience" needs translation into Science — perhaps as God experiencing Himself as all. Anyway our friend is doing much better with this area now.

A couple of our members are working to extend the scope of their businesses. This phrase from Science and Health was suggested, "...growth is the eternal mandate of Mind," (pg. 520:26).

Towards the end of the meeting we worked on the wording of a new preamble. We made substantial progress but two members disagreed over whether to include a restriction on criticism by members of other members' comments and demonstrations. We could not resolve the matter and decided to take "Criticism" up as our topic for the week .