Although lightly attended, our meeting started with a bang as one member arrived fresh from a medical appointment which had occasioned much work in Science. He was exhilarated by this work which rested finally on a prayerful consideration of John, Chapter 17. He read a few passages (see the readings above) and told how well the appointment went; how loving and loved he felt during it: indeed how closely it demonstrated the underlying oneness implied in our topic. A couple of students of Christian Science had recommended he see the whole diagnostic experience as God seeing Himself, beholding only good.

A couple of members phoned in their readings and shares. The chairperson for the evening made us aware of these:

1) One drew much inspiration from Section III of this week's Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on Mind. It includes the story of Bezaleel's God-inspired work on the tabernacle (see Exodus 31: 1-6) and confirmations from Science and Health, particularly this arresting statement from page 248: "The sculptor turns from the marble to his model in order to perfect his conception. We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought" (12-15). Our member felt all relationships are sacred precincts within which God's presence as the only I or Us can be sought and experienced. We must constantly look into Mind to find the true relationship even as it unfolds. He felt the definition of "Church" in the Glossary of Science and Health would be applicable here too.

2) The other member asked us to read the passages from I Samuel, Matthew and Ephesians and those from the chapter on "Marriage" in Science and Health shown in our readings above. His take on intimate relationship is that it's the place where we can really go deep; where we can experiment with and experience trust and actually relax and play. We can let our inner child come out of hiding and flourish.

A member in attendance told of the work he was doing on the topic, using these texts:

Parabola, Winter 1995, on Eros
The Eden Project by James Hollis
Reciprocal Being by Margaret Laird

All three take up intimate relationship from radically different perspectives. Our member feels that his own lived experience stirred into the ideas unleashed by these works will carry him along to a higher realization of intimacy, otherness and relationship.

He was the member who brought in the statement from page 266 of Science and Health (see the readings) regarding personal friendships. He has always felt this was unduly puritanical but has grown to appreciate it as an apt description of mortal mind's way of relating. He has had plenty of examples of such relationships in his life and is ready to gain the spirituality necessary for real intimacy.

He has barely started on the path but already he has been able to bring some appreciation to the tantric torture he has put himself through for years — seeing it now as in the service of waking up. The book by James Hollis is giving him some useful pointers on where he is blocked; while Margaret Laird, the champion of One Ego as the only basis for relationship, is giving him glimpses of his "destination" or where he is even now in reality.

Already there are results from his prayer and study. As hinted above, he has put the horrors of the past in a proper context. Furthermore, a startling dream series has helped repair his relationship with God; and he has deepened a couple of friendships. He sheepishly told of being healed of seeing Mrs. Eddy's final days on earth as a failure. He had always wondered how the woman who wrote the statement just referred to on page 266 of Science and Health could say this in her carriage three days before she passed on: "Oh, if the students had only done what I told them, I should have lived and carried the cause" (see Peel, Years of Authority, page 359). He now sees her as working right up to the end — like the rest of us will have to — on resolving the conflicting pulls of human relationship. She never claimed personal authorship of our textbook and had to study it as we do.

Another member talked of his attempts to relate to a very beautiful young man who seems interested in him as well but shy, perhaps from lack of life experience. They seem to intimidate each other with their respective stores of good looks and vast knowledge. If there's a bridge surely the one supersensible Ego is it.

Another member discussed his healing of stomach distress just the morning of the meeting. It unfolded from a childlike relating of himself to God rather than matter. It was just one of those old fashioned Christian Science treatments which, in our sophistication, we sometimes overlook. And we might add, a lovely reminder of that primal relationship from which all relationships flow.

Those attending felt we had barely gotten started on our topic. Yes, we had some good theory and a few experiences but want now to deepen these. We'll take another week on Intimate Other.