Article June 27, 1983 Issue

The Reading Room—a spiritual oasis

JACK V. SMITH

After Christ Jesus had spent the day with the multitudes—telling them parables and healing them—he sometimes sought the solitude of a mountain or desert place. Toward the end of his ministry, he would often retreat to the quiet atmosphere of the Mount of Olives. There, in the solitude of the garden, he could pray, commune with God, away from the hustle and bustle of the world. There the Master often met with the disciples, teaching them about the Father, the Son, and the kingdom of heaven.^{See John 18:1, 2; Luke 22:39 .}

Today, people wishing to find a retreat from the hectic pace of family life, the business world, or school, will find the Christian Science Reading Room in their community a peaceful place where they can refresh themselves spiritually, as Jesus did, through prayer. They can also learn more of the Christ, Truth, and how to apply Christian Science to work out the day's complex problems successfully and harmoniously.

In the chapter "Prayer" in Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: "In order to pray aright, we must enter into the closet and shut the door. We must close the lips and silence the material senses." ^{Science and Health, p. 15.} What better place to do this during a busy day than in the healing atmosphere of a Reading Room—an oasis wherein we may all refresh ourselves spiritually.