Christian Scientists working with a term like Grace are dilettantes; it is Catholics and Protestants who have probed this one to the core and even fought wars over it. But we did our best and eventually found some powerful ideas hidden beneath its orthodox exterior: indeed, some of those electrifying paradoxes Mrs. Eddy presents to us in the hope probably of driving us out of our so-called minds.

Grace in a theological sense is the unearned, even unbidden, blessing that God bestows on man. We found this pretty straightforward, if a bit tainted by personal sense. In Christian Science we might better say something like, "Perfect God includes His perfect idea, man."

The quote from Science and Health, p. 4: 3-5, in our readings is also clear; we should pray fervently for growth in grace and express the result in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds. Who could argue with that? We were getting the hang of grace. Faces lit up.

Then a member — such a little devil this one — had the un-grace to read the quotes above from Unity of Good. Included is this wrench flung into the works: "Christians are commanded to grow in grace. Was it necessary for God to grow in grace, that He might rectify His spiritual universe?" (p. 14:12) Our member made sure we all got the point: "Was it necessary for man, the idea of God, to grow in grace?"

There was only momentary consternation however as members saw that whatever it is that mortals need to see or do to grow in and dispense grace, they would only truly do it if their efforts are under girded with the Truth of man's present, full reflection of absolute good.

This led to a discussion of similar dual symbols in Scripture. For instance, it is the absolute Christ which empowers Jesus; the petra (Greek for bedrock) which encompassed the thought of Peter (from petros meaning pebble), (see Matthew 16: 13-18, amplified in the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson Sermon on Truth, Section IV); Zion and Jerusalem; concrete being as comprehended by mortals (see our readings Miscellaneous Writings, p. 82: 13-4).

Discussion deepened. Here are a few of the crumbs gathered. Growth in grace or lack thereof may be apparent to mortals, but this should not be our concern. We need to concentrate our energy on seeing and being man in Science. It is Egoism which will eliminate egotism and attendant dysfunctions. No amount of barking up the tree of good and evil — trying to determine who is or is not filled with grace — can do the work of Science. A member read a statement from Margaret Laird's book Christian Science Re- Explored: "In living my I or Mind, Self-consciously, I live my all with Love."

A member asked what we would do with someone who is very ungracious to us. Should we react in kind or pray? Another felt grace or un-grace, it's all the same to God; all states of consciousness can be quickly reduced by the student of Christian Science to the elemental fact of 100% grace of God present right there! If we put our energy behind the facts, remarkable adjustments in human beliefs and appearances must follow.

We spent some time on the WWJD bracelets worn by fundamental Christians. These remind them to ask in tight situations, "What would Jesus do?" Some scholars wear WWAD t-shirts: "What would Albert [Einstein] do?" Should we ask WWMBED? Apparently that's just what the Christian Science Board of Directors did in the 70's in setting policy on homosexuality. Is this the same as asking "What does Christian Science indicate?" One member thought not, "It would be like asking what my high school teacher would do about my checkbook."

Last week we took up work on some international problems and invited visitors to work with us. Here is some of the work done. On the Middle East, a member pointed out that the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson Sermon on Truth, this week, contains in Section VI a full handling of the New Jerusalem vision as understood in Science. He is keeping this in his heart as he thinks about the negotiations at Camp David.

On AIDS a member came across this statement in Science and Health and is using it to help prepare thought for a healing here: "The joy of intercourse becomes the jest of sin, when evil and suffering are communicable. Not personal intercommunion but divine law is the communicator of truth, health, and harmony to earth and humanity" (p. 72:28-32) As for Gay people in mainline religions, a member felt we have much in common with religious folk. Being homosexual is — like being white — a biological given. Being Gay is, on the other hand, — like one's truly felt religion — a choice.

Here are some healing experiences from the week.

1) A driver cut sharply into a member's lane. He felt immediate rage and was pleased to see a police car pull the driver over. He soon however was able to go within get some peace and bless everyone concerned. Those at our meeting saw the cop's intervention as the operation of grace, perhaps preserving the driver's life.

2) Another member, having noticed how clean the streets had become around the Lesbian and Gay Center where we meet, saw a very handsome man sweeping the street one day. He was impressed by his great dignity and attention to detail. He talked to him and found he and others were involved in an experimental prison release effort for drug offenders. Our member left the interaction seeing the new life opening for this man as grace in action.

3) Another member left his photo ID with ushers at a theater when securing earphones. When he returned, the ID had been misplaced and the staff were somewhat unhelpful. After much commotion he himself finally located the ID, under a phone, and with some anger asked the several ushers for their names — he was going to write management about this! Something rolled over in his thought — he somehow got the humor in the scene as did the others — they all ended up smiling and then laughing. He did write the letter and mailed it just before our meeting — it commended the usher staff for their courtesy and caring attitude.

4) Another member was suddenly "outed" by the owner of a Xerox shop to a non-Gay gym friend. The owner had noted our member's Gay Christian Science materials and apparently was aghast that we could avoid the Levitical commandment to stone Gay people. Our member was overjoyed to see his friend's reaction — he himself was trying inarticulately to defend his participation in religion but the non-Gay man quickly made a spirited defense of the practice of editing out what was obviously meant for a desert tribe. He even quoted his good friend Peter Gomes, the chaplain at Harvard, where he had attended college. Together they came up with the idea that the same state of thought that brought us Leviticus 18:22 brought us the stoning of Paul and Stephen, the crucifixion of Jesus and the Holocaust. Judgmentalism and hatred run riot. So we don't pay much attention to such statements.

For next week we'll look at Family.