We've looked at aspects of gratitude before, particularly at Thanksgiving meetings between 1998 and 2000 — see the Archives. A relatively new member of our group brought it up last week for deeper exploration as she grapples with feelings accompanying her return to Christian Science after years studying other approaches to spirituality like Buddhism and Religious Science.

After readings, two old time members went a bit haywire over the value of gratitude in Science. Both seemed to see its worth on the human belief level as the realities of being dawn upon thought. One however maintained that in divine Science, where man and the universe are the full reflection of God, gratitude is irrelevant and nonexistent. He quoted this from Miscellaneous Writings: "Is man's spiritual sonship a personal gift to man, or is it the reality of his being, in divine Science?"(p. 181: 3-4) Anyway, as the discussion between the two became louder and threatened rancor, another member — checking out the ennui among others in the room — asked for a halt. Others were able to move into the momentary lull. Whew!

The member who requested the topic said gratitude was fundamental to her practice of Science. It's a feeling of immense joy and spiritual pleasure — an underlying assurance that all is well — demanding constant iteration, whether in word or action. Another said he proceeds through his day saying, "Thank you, Father,"no matter what comes up. Even error is but a dualistic statement of Truth, simply awaiting correct evaluation. Indeed, as another quickly added, Jesus proceeded in much the same way; many of his healings were preceded by the words, "Thank you, Father."

A couple of 12-Step program members indicated that gratitude is a prime element in recovery from addictions. When someone stumbles drunk into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, members try to get him to acknowledge gratitude for something in order to break the addiction long enough to introduce the program to him. An Overeaters Anonymous member told us that his abstinence started when, at a Thanksgiving dinner attended by other overeaters in recovery — everyone being as antsy as any other addicts awaiting their fix — the host requested they sit in a circle and express gratitude for three things before dinner was served. They did so and were then able to eat normally.

A couple of ideas about gratitude specifically in relation to healing came up:

1) We can be grateful for a healing before it occurs. This aspect of healing is often mentioned in descriptions of healings reported in the Christian Science periodicals and at Wednesday meetings. Trying to feel grateful, or faking it in order to promote a healing is of course mesmerism, so we need to understand why we can and should feel grateful "beforehand". It's because in reality — as reflection of perfect God — we are and always have been perfect. It is in accessing this correct view of ourselves and others that the seeming mortal achieves healing. Gratitude, welling up from the Truth of being, is the real thing and part of the healing process which mortal mind is engaged in.

2) If a healing occurs and we immediately exult in the material evidences of it are we really grateful to God, the source and condition of our being, or merely happy to be relieved of the seeming lack or whatever? If the latter, why marvel at "losing a demonstration?"Legitimate gratitude, it seemed to us, would bind us to divinity and keep us securely in its flow. A so-called material improvement in those circumstances is not that at all but keener spiritual insight which always results in harmony.

Mrs. Eddy's poem quoted in the readings — see above, Hymn 207: 3 — came up for comment. How can we be glad for every scalding tear and so on? Is that Science or 19th century masochism? A member spoke in favor of its absolute scientific good sense, particularly when seen from within a culture not much given to the notion of growth through suffering. We do have the popular exhortation "No pain, no gain."The point for him is that suffering causes us to struggle to get off the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind. For what could one possibly be more grateful than that? He illustrated with a recent healing.

He told of being caught in some painful scenes with two friends. In earlier times there would undoubtedly have been a rupture in the friendships, but this time he — and probably the others — prayed. He saw he must transcend his personal sense of ego and retreat to the one Ego, God. Once his at-one-ment was secure he was able to take loving decisions for himself which also benefited his friends. Surprisingly, he found himself closer than ever to the friends! And in following days wild, unruly childhood motifs came vaulting up from the unconscious; he was able to see these as unhealed, because unknown, family romance (i.e. Oedipal) involvements projected onto his friends. As he suffered these out, under-girding the revelations with scientific knowing, again seeking the Ego among all the egos and even talking to one of the friends about what was going on — he soon found himself able to engage in far greater intimacy — probably eventually even romantic intimacy, though he hasn't yet tested this — and has had a general release and upsurge of energy which he had no idea was bound up in this way.

A new member, new to Christian Science, was inspired to declare that whatever happens can be seen as good, not evil. His own life shows this and has included a number of horrors like a homophobic stabbing in his native land. It convinced him and his parents that he must escape to the US. We're so glad to have him and his joyous energy aboard.

Other healings reported were:

1) A member has been able to keep an upbeat and hopeful attitude at work in spite of a deadening undertow of negativity. He constantly finds evidence of God's presence right there in the muck and doesn't hesitate to share what he sees with others at the office although in appropriate terminology for non-Christian Scientists.

2) Another member decided to check out how his alma mater, Principia, is doing with their Gay students and teachers. He was told that once revealed, they are quickly terminated, although most prefer to just leave on their own. Our member was able to speak quietly and lovingly to one of the supporters of this policy and feels perhaps he has laid some groundwork for an eventual opening of thought.

3) A couple of members worked on loneliness during the week and saw its counter-fact as "all-one-ness". We're all one with God and therefore cannot feel lonely, whether we have someone in our lives or we don't. These members want to bring this area up as a topic; indeed we have received a request from an internet friend to explore it.

4) One member was grateful for the male to male romantic kiss on Dawson's Creek this week. No jokes, no mistakes, not even sex. Just an unheralded, unhyped kiss between two young men falling in love.

For the next two weeks we'll study and work on the Uniqueness of Christian Science. Notes will go up on or about May 19th.