Article October 17, 1994 Issue

Preparing for seekers of Truth

Original in German

Ulrich Hanisch

One of the joys of working in Christian Science Reading Rooms—places where anyone can come and ask questions about Christian Science—is that sincere seekers for Truth do frequently come in. These interested people look for answers to their questions about the practice of Christian healing. In order to be able to answer what can sometimes be deep questions, it is important to prepare oneself for the librarian's work in the Reading Room. For here, as in all other areas of life, success is directly related to preparation. I've found that this definitely involves prayer.

One morning, while praying about my work at the Reading Room, I studied a particular statement by Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health. Referring to Christian Science, she writes, "It shows the scientific relation of man to God, disentangles the interlaced ambiguities of being, and sets free the imprisoned thought" (p. 114). As I thought about this statement, I realized that sometimes we might accept as valid the material picture presented to us of ill humor, irritation, doubt, fear, and so forth, but a greater understanding of man's relationship to God frees us from these beliefs and their ensuing effects. Praying about this meaningful citation filled me with satisfaction. Its applicability was soon, however, to be tested on my way to work at the Reading Room.

While waiting for the subway I got upset about an advertising poster appealing specifically to mankind's baser instincts. I heard an inner voice saying at once, Let Christian Science disentangle "the interlaced ambiguities of being, and [set] free the imprisoned thought"! I realized that by getting upset I was accepting the supposed validity of these aggressive images. From my study of the Bible, I knew that man, as God's image, is actually spiritual and pure, so to become angry about the advertisement would be to believe that man was a vulnerable mortal, capable of being manipulated, of being made the passive tool of materialism, or what Paul in the Bible calls "the carnal mind." In prayer, I resisted the belief that these advertisements could rob me of my inner joy and harmony. I knew that God's spiritual man, the true being of each of us, is subject only to God's influence, which is always good and loving. This restored my peace.

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