We continued our 14-year tradition of reading aloud the Thanksgiving Lesson provided in the Christian Science Quarterly. After this we explored additional readings from our Textbooks, as well as the Christian Science Hymnal and the works of Edward Kimball.

Discussion was rather serious-minded for a Thanksgiving meeting. We had no time for treacle. Our facilitator started with a testimony, interspersed with readings from Science and Health (see above). He said he was grateful for Christian Science and how it had promoted his progressive exit from material belief. Three areas of "sharp experience" were mentioned: an agonizing childhood, a case of compulsive overeating based on an insatiable hunger, and being Gay in a non-Gay society. These were once seen as unbearable problems; now they could be seen as blessings, having turned him to the arms of divine Love. Indeed, he was forced to come to terms with his real source and origin in God; to experience the satisfaction of immortality superseding a ravenous mortal; and to find completeness, wholeness where societal stereotypes had failed.

Another member then asked for some help on how to approach her sister's life-threatening illness. She has tried to interest the sister in Christian Science but without effect; the woman, in a swirl of pills and other medical interventions, seems intent on dying. Several recommendations were offered. One was to leave her alone to pursue her own destiny. Another was to let her know how much she is loved and would be missed should she die. One member blurted out the notion of re-writing one of Mrs. Eddy's statements appearing in the Thanksgiving Lesson to read as follows: "Whatever inspires with wisdom, Truth, or Love — be it song, sermon, pill, medical procedure, or Science — blesses the human family with crumbs of comfort..." (see Science and Health, p. 234: 4-8). Such crumbs of comfort, he added, are no more than that, but might lull mortal mind enough for the truth that Life is fully present to assert its control.

Another member asked what others in the room felt was the origin of mortal mind, since divine Mind is said to be all. This is an old problem in Christian Science and we all knew it well. Usually one hears it as something like, if God is good and all, how could evil exist? Some metaphysicians waste no time on concepts like mortal mind but have one Mind only; humans awaken to their full at-one-ment with perfect Mind through suffering and Science. Christ Jesus' experience is the model. One thing we could see was that healing depends crucially on rebuking the belief in a mortal mind, however that may be accomplished.

One member offered two illustrations. One was the simple question: "Where did 3 plus 3 equals 5 come from?" The other was something his Christian Science teacher said as he struggled with the death of a dear friend. Mortal mind was said to be like a train with people always getting on and off, while divine Mind has no such comings and goings. It just is.

Another member reported on his dealings with two particularly helpless little old ladies. These incidents brought him into contact with his own inner helpless little old lady, craving the strength and help of a man and ready to pull whatever manipulations would effect the needed offloading of responsibility. He awakened quickly to the need to reach out to God for light and the desire for a strong man was seen as a prayer for the realization that it is the completeness of man as God's reflection that assuages fear, loneliness, helplessness etc. The seeming human emptiness is divinely filled. One interesting aspect of this healing is that he does not think what he has seen spiritually excludes in any way some "strong man" appearing — it could be himself, another or a combination of the two, or even a total rearrangement of circumstances to make such human intervention unnecessary. All these possibilities are secondary, as he lets the emptiness of human belief be the Fullness of divine Fact.

A member told of what appeared to be rebuffs by two men he had been discreetly flirting with. His long established tendency to reflect on what their actions meant was cut short this time by his decision not to read mortal mind but to read instead divine Mind, which fully confirmed his completeness and perfection. He feels great peace about the two guys and is able to see their divinity as well. What might happen in the human paradox is a mystery which he is prepared to endure.

We had a giggle about the papal pronouncement on Gay marriage as "deplorable". It may indicate a serious psychological problem, however. The word comes from Latin roots meaning "to weep" and may indicate the level of pain in the church as prelates try unsuccessfully to control natural feelings in themselves and others. The student of Science can hold loving watch as this matter works its way through to freedom.

We reviewed a new book "6 Nightmares" by Anthony Lake. It reveals some semi-official thinking on the prospects for truly horrible invasions of the U.S.A. by everything from anthrax to electronic sabotage. There seems no way to protect ourselves from all the possibilities. One funny line was that a foolproof way to get a bomb in was to put it in a packet of illegal drugs brought in from Mexico. Anyway, we concluded that we'll be forced to live infinitely, including all in our consciousness. Is that so bad?

As the hour ran out we were locked in an intense discussion of Christian Science healing as against faith healing. One member read the quotes from Miscellany shown above. He also mentioned the article "Principle and Practice" published in 1917, after Mrs. Eddy's departure. (It is re-printed in an appendix to Robert Peel's biography of Mrs. Eddy, volume III.) We'll go forward with this discussion of Christian Science Healing next week.