Church Alive April 23, 2012 Issue

The following was written in support of Church Alive, a focus of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, that explores the meaning and possibilities of awakening to the spiritual basis and impact of Church.

Rise up in thought and heart

Joni Overton-Jung

So many churches, teachings, religions, interpretations . . .
So many things done in the name of God . . .
So many hearts seeking, longing, hungering for truth . . . 

Sometimes I am tempted to feel saddened by the disparity of what church/religion/spirituality should or could be versus what it sometimes looks like on the surface. Or I am tempted to feel impatient with what sometimes may seem like the glacial pace of spiritual progress in myself or others. When this occurs, I am prompted to reflect on transformative, transcendent glimpses of grace—to rise up in thought and heart to feel the actuality and presence of God here, everywhere; to move past dormant, dark, dreary thoughts of life to catch the impelling, illumining light of Christ.

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy defines Temple as “. . . the superstructure of Truth; the shrine of Love; . . .” (p. 595).