I wish to express gratitude for...

Mary Marjorie Garraway

I wish to express gratitude for our weekly Lesson-Sermons, provided in the Quarterly. Sometime ago my brother called to tell of some adverse circumstances that had befallen him. Shortly I found myself so apprehensive over his predicament that I knew that even if he did not wish help in Christian Science, I must at least uplift my own thought.

The lesson that week was entitled "Probation After Death," and, before studying it, I wondered how it could ever help in this particular situation. One of the first quotations from the Bible was (Prov 4:27), "Remove thy foot from evil." I then realized that I had been standing right in the midst of evil. I had been seeing my brother as a human being, surrounded by human circumstances. Instead, as a Christian Scientist, I must see his true selfhood as a divine idea— created by God, governed by God, and sustained by God.

Another truth I learned from the lesson was that Life is God and self-existent. I realized from this statement that good was inherent in my brother as God's child—that nothing could impede it, nothing could damage it, and nothing could destroy it.

The lesson also contained these words from Psalm 23 (verse 4): "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me," I realized that God's authority for progress and God's support of progress were ever with my brother, showing him infinite possibilities. The Bible selections also related one occasion on which Jesus, "the doors being shut" (John 20:26), came and stood in the midst of his disciples. I realized that although my brother seemed to close the doors of his consciousness; against right ideas, the Christ was ever with him and working in him.

The lesson concluded with this statement from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (p. 258): "God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis." I realized from this truth that man is forever employed in expressing God. From then on, when my brother came to mind, I had a great sense of peace about his affairs.

My brother became more receptive of right ideas, and I in turn learned a much-needed lesson in how to love a brother. Several months later, almost the same situation came into my own experience that had come into his. I was given notice of the termination of my employment. However, it seemed immediately as though the prayerful work necessary to handle the situation had already been done.

In the interim between the date of notification of termination of employment and the actual date of termination, I studied several meaningful articles on progress which I found in the Sentinel. These articles allowed no discouragement to enter my thought, for they heralded angel messages: that if activity seems to have been interrupted, it can be speedily resumed, provided the lie is not accepted that good can lapse; that the Christ is leading us to a place that has already been prepared for us; and that "in Christian Science there is never a retrograde step, never a return to positions outgrown" (Science and Health, p. 74).

When the job transition did occur, it was immediate. That is to say, the termination of my former position occurred on a Friday, and on the following Monday my new position commenced. It has proven to be a most rewarding and joyful experience in many ways.

For this blessing and for many others that have come from the study of Christian Science, I am most grateful.—(Miss) Mary Marjorie Garraway, Sherman Oaks, California.

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