NOT ALONE, NOR FORGOTTEN

Thank you so much for the April 3 issue on Hurricane Katrina ["Courage to go forward"]. As those of us on the Gulf Coast work to rebuild our homes, our churches, and our lives, the support of Christian Scientists across the country has meant more than you can imagine. We have been buoyed by cards, letters, calls, and contributions from Sunday School classes, Christian Science churches and societies, and individuals. The recent visit by The Christian Science Board of Directors also meant a great deal.

Thanks to everyone who has helped us remember we are not alone and are not forgotten, even long after the storm has passed.

NORMA JENNINGS
SLIDELL, LOUISIANA, US

KEEP 'HOPPING'

The Sentinel is a very appealing and readable periodical. The colors are beautiful, stylish, appropriate in the illustrations. Thanks for all the dedicated work of the editors in putting these together each week.

It seems the weeks pass by more swiftly than ever; so you all really have to keep "hopping" in harmony with God's requirements. What you do is much appreciated, I am sure.

HENRY RUTLEDGE
DAVIS, CALIFORNIA, US

DEFEATING AGGRESSION WITH LOVE

Susanne Smith's article, "Meekness is not weakness," in the April 10 issue ["Meekness and might"], is such a splendid and inspiring example of how to behave when confronted with aggressive young people (or adults). This, for them, is sometimes an unfair world of loosened family ties, and lack of understanding and love.

ADOLF WALTER KNOPFEL
OSTERMUNDIGEN, SWITZERLAND

GLAD TO BE A SUBSCRIBER

I will confess to not subscribing to the Sentinel for several years because it appeared not to have anything that I thought interesting. However, over the last few months with my new subscription, I'll have to say I'm glad I renewed. Several times recently I've felt an urge to respond to the articles. I guess you could call that "effective prayer" or "resurrection" from a dead sense. I love the way the Bible contexts are now being interwoven into the fabric of Christian Science publications.

Tony Lobl's article in the April 10 issue, "Trading poverty for perfection one life at a time," announces a thought-initiative titled "Spiritual solutions to end poverty—What Christian Science has to offer."

"Poverty." What a broad topic! Or should I say "broad lie"! But what a glorious vision. And the only way poverty's end will ever be initiated is with mental vision or spiritual impetus—with prayer.

Yes! I could join that kind of crusade.

HARLEY GOODWIN
FORT MILL, SOUTH CAROLINA, US

PARABLES, NOT SERMONS

What pure delight was Joseph Waweru Kamenju's "Water tanks, a book, and my spiritual education" in the April 17 issue ["Hope"]! It is wonderful to see the Sentinel highlighting Africa's spirituality and strengths—one of which is storytelling. And the nature of Mr. Kamenju's storytelling is really as a parable, telling of earthly things as pointing to heavenly things, starting with what we know and leading to what we can realize spiritually.

I was struck by how Mr. Kamenju's story of his family's big and little water storage vessels spoke to our churches' big or little bank accounts. We like to think our source of supply needs to be stored up for times of "drought," but if they are not an active conduit for sustained use of "the water that rains from heaven," our tanks could actually become contaminated from disuse. I like that idea of an annual cleaning and draining so that new, fresh water can enter in.

Now see, I'm preaching already, whereas Mr. Kamenju just told his story (parable) and let us do the imagining.

HELEN MATHIS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, US

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