Small beginnings sometimes have far-reaching influence. For instance, an unpretentious shepherd boy named David tended sheep on the hills near Bethlehem. The simple shepherding qualities of strength, watchfulness, and wisdom he developed there ultimately touched many people. Not only did he become king of Israel, but his career as one anointed by God ensured his place in the Scriptures, and centuries later his story continues to teach countless Bible readers all over the world.

Like David, the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, had a meek beginning. It developed in the thought of its author, Mary Baker Eddy, through prayer, spiritual revelation and inspiration, a deep searching of the Bible, and earnest Christian practice of what she was learning of God's allness and power. Yearning to defend the purity of the message of truth she had discovered, and at the same time protect the public from harmful misrepresentations of it, she ordained the textbook, together with the Bible, as pastor over The Mother Church, including all of its branch churches. Her intent for the unlimited outreach of these two books becomes clear when we read what she says of them in the Manual of The Mother Church: ... they will continue to preach for this Church and the world" (Art. XIV, Sect. 1).

This unconfined preaching courageously speaks out, declaring without compromise the message of salvation through Christ, Truth. At the same time, this preaching gently embraces all mankind in healing love. My first glimpse of such shepherding care came one Sunday morning when I was compelled to remain at home instead of attending services at our local Christian Science church.

Working to find healing for a severe illness, I studied the Lesson-Sermon from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, sang hymns, and prayed all that morning. It was a quiet time of opening thought to the great spiritual power that prayer reveals. Through this work I began to feel a closeness to God and His Christ—an awakening receptivity to the divine Love that heals.

Suddenly, about midmorning, I felt a surge of strength and joy—a sense of well-being. The complete healing came later, but at that moment there was a leap of confidence in spiritual healing, a certainty of God's love actively surrounding everyone, including me. It brought a smile to my lips; a fearful sense of being alone and discouraged vanished. I glanced at the clock and realized it was the exact time that the same Lesson-Sermon was being read from the pastor in the branch church to which I belonged.

It's difficult to describe the feeling of shepherding that swept over me at that moment. Not only did I feel included in the healing message of the pastor, but I realized how impossible it is to confine the healing power of Truth and Love. I felt a unity of unspeakable love with my fellowman. While the words of that particular Lesson might be heard only by those within a church sanctuary, the healing and redeeming spirit of those words could not be bounded by walls. In keeping with its divine source, God, the message was universal and without opposition. I felt a sense of fearlessness and safety embracing everyone, and I thought of the innocent lambs who may not be fully aware of the care they are receiving but are encircled in the protective watch of the shepherd just the same.

Christ Jesus set the standard for the unbounded shepherding effects of the spiritual truth he lived and taught. He healed multitudes. The Bible records several instances in which individuals were cured of life-threatening illnesses by the infinite divine Love he expressed even though they were not personally present to hear the words he spoke. His healing message reached far beyond the boundary of the spoken word. It is the Christ with its fearless outward expression of inner spiritual certainty that shepherds a sleeping world. This is the message of the Christian Science pastor, which cannot be confined. Truth spreads its message with wordless power. The textbook declares: "The 'still, small voice' of scientific thought reaches over continent and ocean to the globe's remotest bound. The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, 'as when a lion roareth.' It is heard in the desert and in dark places of fear" (p. 559).

To be fully benefited by the "still small voice" of Truth, listeners must respond in individual ways to conform to the Word of God. The Shepherd guides His flock to abundant food, but each must partake for himself. (I still had prayerful work to do before full healing came.) But anyone who cherishes the desire to know more of his relationship to God can feel the leavening influence of spiritual inspiration found in the Bible and the Christian Science textbook. Each of us has the right to claim his or her identity as the offspring of God, as the spiritual image and likeness of divine Love. The stirring message of the pastor reveals this right, activates spiritual awakening, and impels us to take steps to gain more understanding of our genuine, spiritual identity as God's children. This shepherding action is not confined to church services but is expressed daily and hourly as we study from the pastor during the week. Each awakening thought adds to the worldwide healing embrace of the message.

This embrace is not a matter of influencing by manipulating the thoughts of others. Rather, it is the activity of universal enlightenment through Christ, Truth, shining, as the sun shines, on everyone. At the advent of Christ Jesus, the star shone visibly for all to see, and the song of the angels was peace and goodwill to all mankind. This unconfined shepherding is exemplified in the prayer that Jesus taught his followers, called the Lord's Prayer. Its spirit of all-inclusive, heartfelt love for God and man should set the tone for all Christian Science church services. Speaking of the unifying bond of Christian love found in this profound prayer, Mrs. Eddy comments in Pulpit and Press: "All Christian churches have one bond of unity, one nucleus or point of convergence, one prayer,—the Lord's Prayer. It is matter for rejoicing that we unite in love, and in this sacred petition with every praying assembly on earth,—'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven'" (p. 22).

The meekness of prayer leads to the might of spiritual progress that Christian Science champions. Just as David, a humble shepherd boy, became the great defender of the Israelites when they were threatened by Goliath, so the spiritual truth found in the Christian Science pastor offers healing to a world facing giant challenges. This truth provides spiritual inspiration, new and fresh ideas based on divine wisdom and Love, and enables us to discover spiritual solutions to the challenges mankind confronts. In meeting needs for health and education and in answering the demand for economic security and environmental responsibility, the widest-reaching sense of practical spiritual power is called for. That demonstrable power is the simple touch of Christ, expressed in the Christian Science pastor with all-encompassing spiritual love.

Christ-healing is meant for universal salvation, however unobtrusive its method. The shepherding of the pastor includes all in its leavening spirit of enlightenment, healing, and spiritual progress. The prophet Jeremiah records God's promise this way: "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (3:15). The Christian Science pastor provides just such nourishment. It has filled countless individual lives with meaning and purpose. Its watchful shepherding is unlimited and unfettered. It encircles the world, expressing the boundless, powerful nature of its infinite source, divine Love.

ISAIAH

Sing, O heavens;
and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into sing
ing, O mountains: for the Lord hath
comforted his people, and will have
mercy upon his afflicted.

Isaiah 49:13