We took on Government as our topic to prepare thought for the unfolding U.S. election process and to support the rapidly approaching votes in Taiwan and Russia. As usual, we found our original intent far outstripped by the infinite possibilities and power inherent in Government's underlying spiritual idea. Indeed, every function and aspect of man and the universe are governed by God. We had time to acknowledge only a few.

On the simplest level Christian Science can help us discern and support righteous action in government and to eschew its opposite. This will inevitably involve human opinions of right and wrong, but one member described an additional step he takes when voting. On his way to the poll he "votes", or throws his spiritual weight behind, God's man — infinite, eternal perfection. Pulling the lever and the results from that are secondary, and beneficent, whatever the outcome.

We discussed briefly what we hope to secure from governments. Peace, expanding economy, civil rights, pure environment, safety nets, health care, education were needs mentioned. These are certainly legitimate and are to some extent supplied by governments. We have to go deeper in Christian Science and understand that all needs are supplied by divine Love, whatever the seeming human channel. It is essential to acknowledge God's every-moment governance of our entire being, body, universe.

We used the model of the pool of Bethesda in this discussion (see John 5: 2-9). The need for healings was traditionally supplied to the few who got into the pool at just the right moment. Jesus provided healing to one man who could see the Truth. Christian Science tells us healing is not from a person but from our very own Mind. Now. Our Government then is our very own divine being, forming its/our body or universe in its image.

We discussed the actual and incipient theocracies now evident in the world, as well as countries troubled by religious communal conflict. Iran is an example of a theocracy. But what of the U.S. or Israel or India — will their secular democracies survive the upsurge of politicized religious movements? Troubled places include Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Indonesia and Nigeria. At any moment murderous rage can engulf whole communities. What is going on — are we heading for a dark age of intolerance and religious wars? Possibly.

In reviewing this dire scene one member felt the student of Christian Science could use the actual imagery presented to tease out the underlying need and thereby be in a position to supply it. He felt it was clear from the Iranian revolution as well as what is happening in the U.S. that many people are understandably disappointed at secularism's failure to deliver expected joy; they are turning to religion. Unfortunately they often find themselves at the mercy of dualistic political potentates, dressed as clerics, who can give no more than the momentary thrill of hating others, delivering them to a worse fate than secularism ever induced. But our member saw the real need as a yearning for wholeness and meaning — a desire for Spirit in their lives right now. The student of Science, through contact with infinite, impersonal power, can supply this need by seeing man — i. e., all of us — as perfect, complete now. No halfway, dualistic pretense can resist what really is.

A member described Mary Baker Eddy's prayerful work on the weather, as shown on page 5 of the Blue Book. Her early treatments look very much like mortal mind mesmerizing itself. Finally on May 28, 1903 she writes, "Do not take up there is no thunder and lightening; know that God governs the elements and there is nothing destructive or harmful. God sends the rain that watereth the earth. Human will cannot...govern."

Another member brought in a report of two healings of HIV and AIDS from The Christian Science Journal of October 1999, page 48. These healings followed the understanding of man's identity as reflection of God and that there is no law of incurability. As far as any of us knows, this is the first report of such healings in Christian Science periodicals.

We spent some time working on a member's understandable distress over a recent loss of money and valuables, probably through theft. We all had had experiences similar to this and were able to comfort him and share some of the spiritual strategies we had used to recover. One spoke of seeing his loss as an opportunity to lose some really paranoid thinking about man being evil and so on. He quickly recovered important financial papers, which had remained for several days in a public place without activating any evil action on anyone's part. Another spoke of financial loss through theft being made up once he fully forgave the perpetrator and turned wholeheartedly to God as the source of his supply. We all seemed to gain from this exchange, seeing the constant need to keep ourselves in a reflective stance vis-à-vis Deity and if this is disrupted in belief, to lift consciousness to it again as soon as possible.

These healings were reported.

1) A member found himself taking more time than usual reading his morning newspaper. Despite efforts to move along, he lingered. He questioned why he was doing this. Suddenly his eyes fell on an article that was filled with information about some new areas of business he is expanding into. He rejoiced in this provision of divine Love meeting his need.

2) Another member's work space was abruptly taken away by his landlord. He was offered space nearby, but it was cramped and provided a very noisy atmosphere. He prayed in Science to know that all was well, and his place was assured in Mind. Almost immediately new space was found on another floor. It is open and comfortable. His old clients will easily find their way to it and he feels energized to attract new clients to this lovely space.

3) Another member awoke recalling a quite vivid dream about interacting with an aggressive, abusive mother who eventually calls the cops who arrive with guns drawn and arrest him. As he is being taken to headquarters he befriends one of the policemen, who smiles and cares for him. He did some brief work from Freudian, Jungian and Kleinian standpoints — these did not detract from the Science, but prepared the ground for the definitive interpretation. He recalled our work last week on dreams and was ready to let divine Mind have the final say. De-bifurcating the unpleasant mother and the pleasant cop we arrive at Love and Principle as the power and presence of man.

We'll take a look at Miracles for next week.