Holy Ground

ELSE L. A. BUCHENBERGER

Mary Baker Eddy , the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 260), "Pure Mind gives out an atmosphere that heals and saves." And in Exodus it is written that God said to Moses, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Those who are privileged to serve in a Christian Science Reading Room find these messages to be deep with meaning.

"Holy" is defined as "set apart to the service of Deity ... spiritually whole, sound, or perfect." Certain it is that one can never come into a realization of peace, joy, and harmony, if burdened with fear, envy, sadness, doubt, or any other of the many etceteras of evil which weigh one down. We must cast off these weights of mortal belief if we would become receptive to the good which is promised to God's children. How carefully should librarians and attendants prepare their thoughts for their Reading Room duties, by laying aside personal burdens and earth-weighted thoughts, so that, joyous and free, they may reflect the pure Mind which heals and saves!

Reading Room activity involves more or less clerical work, but when thought is imbued with love and inspiration this will be cheerfully done. One will also be guided to find the needed citations for a questioning guest, and to speak the right word. And when we truly love, as our beloved Leader makes clear in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902 (p. 9), "Truth will arise in human thought with healing in its wings."

One should be careful not to attribute more importance to methodical routine than to the healing atmosphere. It is not the number of sales concluded, the number of books kept in circulation, or the number of guests who visit the Reading Room, that is of highest importance; these factors all have their rightful place, but are secondary to and indicative of the healing influence of true spiritual thinking.

Are borrowed books returned punctually? Do the borrowers evidence appreciation of the blessings the books contain? Are there expressions of gratitude for the opportunity to drink deep at the living fountain "without money and without price"? Books that are promptly returned or renewed indicate an awakened interest.

Uppermost in the alert attendant's thought will be the expectation of good for all who visit the Reading Room. Error of whatever nature is impotent, and therefore is unable to withhold God's blessing from the receptive thought. The wide-awake librarian will hold to the allness of God, good, as she endeavors to stand upon "holy ground," knowing that only as she purifies her own consciousness can she rightly care for the guests.

How often a kindly welcome will bring encouragement! Once a visitor entered a Reading Room salesroom overcome with grief. She accepted the loving invitation to spend a little time in the adjoining quiet sanctuary. Upon leaving, she expressed her thanks, saying she had experienced a sense of peace as if she had been in the very presence of God. As she went away, she was joyful and light-hearted.

Service in the Reading Room offers constant opportunities to uplift spiritually and to heal, when the worker holds thought to Truth and is obedient to the law of God. Therefore, one should be ever watchful to bar out personal will, so that Truth's healing power may-be felt and divine harmony evidenced.

Belief in limitation is not in accord with God's law of infinite good; it can never unloose the fetters of materiality and set the captive free. Jesus, our great Master, taught that when one humbly and sincerely seeks the Father, his prayer does not remain unanswered. More than passive waiting, however, is needed to bring healing results. Grateful expectancy is essential. The earnest, expectant worker in Christ's vineyard is not given a stone, but the needed growth in spiritual understanding, and whatever else is necessary to help carry on the work of salvation.

Each Reading Room has its fruitage; and it is well often to count and record these blessings, so that the church membership may realize better the holy purpose of this important part of the Christian Science organization.

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