So where do we go from here?

The Managing Editors of the print and broadcast Heralds of Christian Science have a special perspective on globalization. We conclude this feature with excerpts from their roundtable discussion on the subject. Bill Dawley, Managing Editor of all the Heralds moderates.

Bill: Clearly, we're in a place humanity has never been before — technologically, industrially, and in other ways. In that sense, every world citizen is a kind of pioneer. What's going to lead us through this untrod territory?

Michael Pabst, German Herald: We're not without a map to guide us. We have the Bible and Science and Health. Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Acquaintance with the original texts, and willingness to give up human beliefs ... open the way for Christian Science to be understood, and make the Bible the chart of life, where the buoys and healing currents of Truth are pointed out” (Science and Health, page 24).

Cyril Rakhmanoff, French Herald: There have been previous times when people were in the same position. I'm thinking of the account in the Bible of how the Children of Israel were guided to a Promised Land. They were in slavery at the time this promise from God came to them. They found freedom through what God gave them — laws, principles to follow. The Ten Commandments summarize these divine laws. Today we have the same laws to guide us.

Cornelia Schacht, Russian Herald: To lead us through this unknown territory, we need a spiritual compass. This means listening to God. When we are God-centered, we can't lose our way. God is going to lead us safely.

Heloísa Rivas, Portuguese Herald: Because news today covers the whole world in a split second, nobody's entirely alone in this pioneering activity. And the good that we can derive from turning to God, to the Bible, to our chart, can reach the whole world very quickly.

Bill: What will globalization teach us about ourselves, and ultimately about God?

Michael: A blessing from this globalization process can be that we will all see we have the same Father, God.

Cyril: Just relying on intellect for solutions to the challenges of globalization isn't enough. Realizing this turns us to God for wisdom. I think people are ready to look in this direction.

Enrique Smeke, Spanish Herald: With globalization, we are witnessing how knowledge is knitting the world together. We are learning to live beyond the limits of our own local environment.

Sue Beck, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Swedish Heralds: As we understand more about God and our relationship to Him, we can contribute to the healing of the nations.

Cornelia: Globalization teaches me that I am not alone. There is a support net out there of international family. This web of love teaches us about God, ultimately — about Mind, Truth, Life, Love, Soul, Spirit, Principle. Understanding this will enliven our whole existence.

Heloísa: Now that we are less alone, the new definition of God will be presented more intelligently, more universally, than ever before. This will direct thought to a scientific approach to understanding God, and to the Science of Christianity. Not in a parochial, denominational way, but in a definite, provable way. The result will be more harmony.

Bill: As Managing Editors, your publishing and broadcasting has been part of the phenomenon of globalization. What have you learned from your experience as global communicators of spiritual ideas?

Cornelia: I have noticed that there is a feeling of hope in readers and listeners who have been in touch with us.

Cyril: In addition to hope, another quality I've felt from them is joy — and excitement. People all over the planet can listen to each other, read about each other. There's unity in this. You get the sense that there is a global search, a global listening to God.

Michael: If I could add another quality to the hope and joy I've felt from our readers and listeners, I would say power. The global communication of spiritual concepts is empowering. We're responding to the prayers of the listeners and their hunger for Truth. We're “walking on their prayers” and supported by their desire.

Cornelia: And the language that reaches everyone, everywhere, is Love.

Bill: Some of the people we've talked to around the world have mentioned economic fears. How can we pray about these and other fears connected with globalization?

Cyril: A better sense of true wealth is the foundation of well-being, for both individuals and nations. True wealth is available to all. It's our heritage of purity, honesty, unselfishness, courage, intelligence. Cherishing these divine qualities gives us the courage and intelligence to achieve progress.

Heloísa: In the past, there was a tendency to think that, in order to distribute wealth among everybody, the right thing would be to take from the ones who have and give it to those who don't. What globalization could do is to give spiritual wealth to everyone. This will translate into a better way of life.

Sue: In one of the countries the Herald serves, there's poverty right now. A man there hadn't received his retirement pension and he needed a lot of things. One of them was food. He prayed with this idea from Science and Health: “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need” (page 494).

Then it came to him to visit a friend he had not seen in a long time. It was love that led him to make this visit. The friend owns a grocery store. When this man went in, he saw the things that he needed, but didn't say anything. The friend was grateful for the visit. And when this man left, the friend gave him the things he needed, without his asking for them.

Cyril: Sometimes people fear losing their identity because of globalization. This is a good sign — that people start to cherish their identity. Identity isn't just a human characteristic. It's the expression of God's goodness and beauty. And this is something that can't stop.

Michael: With identity, I think of a kaleidoscope. When you see the individual pieces of glass in it — and shake them all up — they give you a beautiful pattern. But the individual pieces don't merge or get lost. As reflections of God, we're like those glass pieces. We express all the beautiful aspects of God. And we don't merge or get lost if we're brought together in a new configuration.

Bill: Some people feel globalization could cause ethnic strife. How do we deal with such fears?

Enrique: We're not isolated beings. Through our prayers, we can have an impact on the world atmosphere. Sometimes, for instance, we may feel the need for personal healing. But often what's behind this is the need to heal some issue in the world. Some time ago, I was having pain in one of my legs. At the same time, news programs were talking a lot about a serial killer in the US. It came to me to pray about this situation. I was healed. And eventually the person was caught.

Michael: Sometimes we need to pray about injustice in the distribution of wealth or resources or opportunities worldwide. This injustice is not supported by divine law, and therefore it can be changed. Abundance is available to everyone from God's endless resources. But we have to use our spiritual sense to see it.

Bill: When things are difficult, how do we keep our spiritual poise?

Sue: One of my favorite Bible verses says, “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace” (Job 22:21). The more you understand God and listen to His angel messages, the more you can be peaceful. Even in a stressful or dangerous situation.

Cornelia: The Bible says that Jesus stilled a storm. That he “rebuked” it. We have the responsibility to mentally rebuke unjust circumstances for the benefit of the world, the environment, and the people we live with. If something isn't holy, it needs to be rebuked. We can do this with courage and spiritual energy. And peace follows.

Bill: I'd like to end this discussion by asking each of you to offer one thought about the spiritual reality behind the concept of globalization.

Michael: To me, globalization points to the inherent brotherhood and sisterhood of all God's children.

Cornelia: Christliness — that is the way to abundant living, and abundant spiritual living is where we're going with globalization.

Cyril: Science and Health says, “... whatever blesses one blesses all ....” As we perceive that God is the source of all true substance, we start to see that the well-being of one individual can't be separate from the well-being of the whole world. And the well-being of one nation can't be separate from the well-being of the whole world.

Heloísa: And there's also this: “The starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all ...” (Science and Health, page 275). This starts us off from spiritual abundance. It starts us off from having. Any individual or any nation can start off from this standpoint.

Enrique: For me, globalization points to the fact that there's only one Mind, and that this Mind is one with its creation. Mind's creation isn't divided. It's unity manifested.

Sue: I agree with Michael that brotherhood/sisterhood is the key to everything. That will give us patience, humility, and forgiveness.