Loves sharing the Sentinel

The Sentinel is wonderful. The truth is expressed in clear words. I love sharing this blessing. I cannot help but smile sometimes when I read the articles. They are a wonderful proof of God's harmonious law as they treat issues of concern to me, my family, and the whole world. I pray that the world will realize the need to watch the world from a spiritual perspective.

Yewande Akinola
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

"AIDS: Responding with unconditional love"

Until I read Dave Hohle's Welcome column, "'The end of the beginning,'" I confess I had never addressed the AIDS problem as a threat to humanity in general. I thought of it as a disease affecting a certain body of people far distant from my immediate surroundings. I now realize I have turned a blind eye to the AIDS subject and need to correct this. As Hohle said, it is "becoming the most devastating assault on human life the world has ever faced." That includes all of us. Apathy on my part is inexcusable now. Thank you for the eye-opener and all the wonderful articles in this issue.

Shirley January
Lewis, Delaware

The Christian Science Sentinel of July 22, 2002, dealing with AIDS was a masterpiece. In particular, Ron Ballard's article came to the heart of many troubles in this world, attitudes towards entitlement. Ballard said that it saddened him that there are those who feel that people suffering from AIDS deserve what they get. Attitudes restricting entitlement to goodness only to select groups are the basis for many of troubles afflicting mankind.

This issue reflected a slowly growing departure in world thinking from traditional theological interpretations that God is in the punishment business or that suffering and poverty in this life are the prerequisite for reaching perfection in the next life. The various writers in some way brought out the fact that God is not an angry trial judge, but rather our loving heavenly Parent—a fundamental recognition required in order to bring about constructive changes and healing to individual and community lives. Best of all, they all showed that healing is possible and is occuring.

Joe Smuin
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

I know a lot of people in my community with whom I can share this issue on AIDS. It's a real break-through. I loved the genuineness of these articles. The writers were not preaching from an ivory tower, but sharing their spiritual journeys, their real spiritual growth. They showed how the most powerful spiritual insights aren't just thought of in a vacuum, but how they flow from deep self-examination, from striving for purity, justice, mercy, love. The articles and editorial showed beautifully and tenderly that Christian Scientists are not afraid to think deeply about emotionally charged topics and respond as true Christian healers.

Thanks so much to all of the writers for their honesty and courage in sharing their growth. And heartfelt thanks to all the management and staff of the Sentinel for their vision of the publication's purpose, and for courage and endurance in carrying out that mission. I know it's not easy. Count me as a happy, grateful reader.

Suzanne Nightingale
Cape Coral, Florida

The recent issue on AIDS is cause for great gratitude, from its opening page to the closing editorial. It reminds readers that no one is outside God's family and that the Christ is truly universal. This particular issue—like many before it—touches the heart of/for humanity and gives a glimpse of what Jesus must have implied in his commandment about loving our neighbour.

John Hay Scott
Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, Scotland

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