Divine Direction

A young woman who had been studying in our Reading Room for some time put the following question to the librarian as she was leaving: "I wonder if I am progressing in Christian Science:" The librarian told her that if she was earnestly studying Christian Science and listening for divine direction, she could not help progressing.

The young woman replied, "I do listen, but sometimes I wonder if it is mortal mind or God, the one divine Mind, that I hear."

To this the librarian said, "If you have first spiritualized your thought through study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, and then are obedient to divine direction, you will be at peace, knowing it is God's guidance, and not mortal mind's suggestion.

Turning to leave the Reading Room, the visitor thanked the librarian and then said to her: "I have a problem that I do not seem able to solve. Maybe you can help me."

The librarian knew that her answer must come from God, and not from personal sense. The desire to keep her thought pure and free permitted the light of Truth to flood her consciousness, and she said, "It is already solved, because God does not know inharmony." Immediately the visitor said: "Why, I have my answer! I do not need to tell you the problem."

With that she smiled, and, thanking the librarian, left the Reading Room. The librarian was thankful that it had not been necessary for the visitor to share a personal problem. Truly, God had spoken!

In April of this year our Christian Science Society started a continuous window display. Since our Reading Room is located where we hold our Sunday services and Wednesday meetings and does not present adequate possibilities for a display window, we decided to rent a window in a busy district. Our town has about fifty-five hundred people and a lively business area. Our desire to improve our service to our brother and the Cause of Christian Science opened the way for us to have this fine display window, which is attracting favorable attention.

We hired a carpenter to make a suitable floor and background for the window. A member of the society wired it and put in fluorescent lights on our own meter, so that the display is well lighted until midnight. There is always a sign in the window bearing the address of our society meeting plate and of the Reading Room, as well as the time when church services and meetings and Sunday School are held, and giving the hours when the Reading Room is open. Many have found the Reading Room though this sign and have expressed gratitude for it.

We have a very small membership in our society. Our executive board appointed a chairman for the window display committee, which consists of every member of the society. The chairman immediately arranged a schedule which allows each member the privilege of serving with one other member and a board member for two or three months out of the year.

It is the work of the committee of three not only to prepare the display and take care of the window, but also to keep the glass clean, the walk swept, and the floor of the window dusted. We realize that a neglected window is not in keeping with Christian Science.

To make the window attractive and restful, we keep flowers there in cool weather. On warm days we use colored pictures from The Christian Science Monitor Magazine Section. The whole display is changed at least once a week, and the flowers are changed as the need arises.

The result of the thoughtful work that we have put into this rented window is evident in main ways in our community and Christian Science Society. Many passers-by have expressed gratitude for the display, and some have come to the Reading Room because of it. There is greater activity in all our Reading Room work.

We have discovered that window displays which contain too much and thus present a cluttered effect lose their point and tend to confuse the passer-by rather than attract his attention to Christian Science. Effective arrangement seems more important to us than a quantity of material. We now try to make our windows definitely effective by planning each display around one healing thought and changing both frequently.

In addition to accounts of healings and interesting experiences which have occurred in Christian Science Reading Rooms, this column will welcome occasional reports on new and better work methods, improvement in displays, and the arranging of adequate locations. These reports may include reference to the way in which specific metaphysical work has been done in support of the Reading Room activity and the fruits following. Contributions should be sent to The Christian Science Publishing Society Journal, Sentinel, and Herald Editorial Department, One, Norway Street, Boston 15, Massachusetts.

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Testimony of Healing

At a time when I was laid low...

December 6, 1947

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