Article November 24, 1986 Issue

The Bible: our link to each other

When strangers break the silence by sharing from the Scriptures, even a taxicab can become a holy place.

Linda G. Ruthenbeck

During National Bible Week last year,^{Observed annually in the United States during Thanksgiving week.} I was doing a lot of thinking about humanity's common friend, the Bible. As I prayed about the Christian Science Society where I am a member and about its relationship to the community, I realized the one great link all Christians have to each other is the Bible. Even with the various translations, interpretations, sects, the Bible is still the Bible. I was feeling such a kinship with all mankind!

At that same time I happened to be called to go out of town. Upon my arrival at my destination, I took a cab from the airport to the city. There were three other passengers on the long drive into town. Of course, we didn't know one another, and after a lengthy silence, the driver, in an effort to make conversation, began telling a story.

Once when he had faced a serious challenge, no one seemed to care. He decided to go back to his old church and talk to one of the clergymen he had known there—a man he had liked. He finally found him out in the courtyard, playing basketball with some of his colleagues. They told our driver kindly that he would be seen just as soon as the game was over. He felt he couldn't wait for that, so he left in great disappointment. He said he felt very alone, and since he was the only one who seemed to care, he walked for blocks just talking and listening to himself.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The Bible's prayer-shaping powers