As the meeting got underway one member exclaimed, "Thank God for Con Ed." As New York sweltered through another summer evening, this brought us right to the point about Power. What would our lives be like at that moment without electric energy for lights, air-conditioning, subways? When New York lost all electric power in 1977, there was looting and mayhem.

We went forward with the readings but returned to the Con Ed remark long enough to work it out in Christian Science that power must not be viewed as merely a valuable material commodity which may or may not be available. It must be traced to its root and seen as a manifestation of the omnipotence of Deity, ever-present, always available.

A member pointed out that we each have some personal sense of power over our environment. Are we attractive, rich, smart, a good listener? Perhaps we're debilitated in such a way that we can cause others to come to our rescue. These can be seen as our talents, which biblically we must use for the glory of God. "Talents, fine," said another member, "but here too we'd better see them as derived from the divine all-Power."

One member told us that when he reads or hears the word "God" he automatically replaces it with one of the Christian Science synonyms: Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. He then read us a statement from the current Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on Love: "If Spirit or the power of divine Love bear witness to the truth, this is the ultimatum, the scientific way, and the healing is instantaneous." (Science and Health, p. 411:10) So, it's Love, God, not a person, who effects a Christian Science healing. As this member once struggled with a bad cold, he found it suddenly gone after he got the point clear that God does the healing.

Another member told of her experience at an ushers' meeting the evening before at her branch church. The readings were on meekness and included the Beatitude "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5). The meekness of our personal ego is an essential concomitant of accessing the power of God.

We went on to testimonies of healings.

1) As one member prepared to leave his home for the meeting, he found himself on the phone being enticed by a former lover (who is now married to a woman) to engage in phone sex. He had to exert "loving care and wisdom, based on the power of God" to prevent the event from running a full course.

2) Another member after hearing the weather report of heat, humidity and ozone decided to skip the meeting and stay home in air-conditioning as recommended by his doctors, in order to avoid an asthma attack. He had been at home a lot lately because of weather conditions and was quite depressed by his confinement. He called another member to say he was sorry they would not get to see each other. They talked a bit about our topic, how power was entirely from God and underlay all aspects of being. After they hung up, he felt well enough to start for the meeting, gathering strength as he went. He made it all the way, participated fully in the meeting and went to dinner with us afterwards.

3) One member brought his wife to the meeting. They have been married for more than twenty five years. A few years ago, after Christian Science class instruction and intense study, he discovered that he is Gay. He and his wife, also a student of Christian Science, worked on the situation and have made quite a demonstration. There is still pain and uncertainty, but they're working with a devoted Christian Science practitioner and are also in couple's therapy. They now live apart and date others but see each other often. They are best friends. The children have made a good adjustment and find their father's new pursuits an area of fascination and intrigue. The wife said, "I feel the loss sometimes but I also feel the excitement of a new life unfolding before me."

4) This reminded our member recovering from the grief associated with the death of his roommate how much security he lost with that death, but also how much insecurity. (The roommate was an alcoholic with attendant dangers like doors left unlocked or passing out while cooking.) Would he be able to stand the new tranquility? He also mentioned his feelings of gratitude for all this man represented for him. It is "true gratitude, experienced only after one reaches Melanie Klein's so called depressive position. It's not a placatory or manipulative prayer technique styled to move Deity." He found this statement from the Lesson on Love in which to ground his demonstration: "Love fulfils the law of Christian Science, and nothing short of this divine Principle, understood and demonstrated, can ever furnish the vision of the Apocalypse, open the seven seals of error with Truth, or uncover the myriad illusions of sin, sickness, and death." (Science and Health, p. 572:12)

5) Another member continued to work during the week on living the divine nature. As she has done this, business has gone well and the various minutiae of her life have unfolded harmoniously. She discovered she no longer has sad or angry feelings about old love affairs gone badly. "They were all divine Love."

We finished with some areas to work on with insights gained from our consideration of Power.

1) One member's request for prayerful support for her mother, institutionalized in Texas.

2) The US as "sole superpower".

3) Dealings with Iraq.

4) The economy's slow recovery — or is it a "double dip"?

5) The Massachusetts Gay marriage referendum struggle. One activist said, "Civil rights should not be placed on the ballot for popular vote. ...the tyranny of the majority should never be allowed to take away the rights of the minority."

For next week a member who is having a birthday requested we look at Birth.