A word or two in appreciation for the support so many of you are showing in my blogging endeavor. I thought when it was started mid-September of this year that I was fired up for Christ and Christian Science. But that was nothing to compare to what I feel right now. I welcome your comments/feedback. Even dissenting views which is what a blog is for, after all, in my view. The only thing I will not countenance is a disparaging remark about God (can't imagine it!), or Christ Jesus, or the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. Or, as I pointed out early on in an entry, people who might think they can dissuade me from following the teachings of divine Science. Or turn me against Mary Baker Eddy. This has been tried, and failed at, several times. So I say to any one out there, it cannot be done. Even by those sincere people who are, in their minds, trying to save me from going to hell. They're worried about my soul. One friend of mine who turned away from CS tried over a period of years to get me to follow her out the door. She loves Jesus and I respect her for this. But we have had to part ways on the larger issue of Christian Science and my intention to stay with it.
So once again, I thank you for the heartfelt support you are showing. Having friends like you, I am very blessed.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Remarkable women
Ever since I read Nicholas Kristoff's column in The New York Times on Thanksgiving Day concerning a remarkable Pakistani woman, have been thinking about other outstanding women who have put the welfare of others far above their own, even their own safety. Won't summarize this piece for you, but I was both humbled and inspired by reading it. And I've told the author so.
Not surprising, heading up my list of remarkable women has to be the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. The gratitude I feel for her monumental achievements in blessing mankind is ongoing. Far more than just a lone woman who overcame human obstacles, a women's libber if you will--the way Boston has tried to portray her--the avenues she established through God's direction and survived in doing so by leaning on Him, are still blessing people around the globe. I am in her debt, and happy to be so.
But to my next example of someone head and shoulders above many is my friend Betty, a fellow Tennessean and a Journal listed practitioner. I only just learned that it was she who made the comment on one of my entries, "Turning back to God" about the movement being dead but the Cause continuing. This has sparked much comment around the world, and she needs credit for it. This lady thinks for herself, has a clear sense of what is right about our Cause, and what is wrong. And she does not hesitate to say so, to patients or those in authority. It is always a shot in the arm for me to talk with her about serious issues concerning Christian Science. Some weeks ago I wrote a poem in tribute to her and well, let me give it here:
"Want to Hear Something Good?"
I have a friend here in town,
Betty, who does this habitually,
who when a bank teller or store
clerk says, "Have a good day"
replies substantially:
I know I will. God gave me
this good day, and I don't intend
to pollute it with fear or anger
or ingratitude or feeling down.
I'm going to appreciate this
day God has given
to all His children.
It's up to me to decide
what I'm going to do with it.
Now, you might be thinking,
Ah, she just ignores real issues,
thinks about things superficially.
She ought to have my problems!
This woman's challenges are such
that I would not want to, indeed,
could not, walk in her shoes
for a single day.
But she leans on God
in every way,
and He brings her through.
(Just thought I'd share
this with you.)
Not surprising, heading up my list of remarkable women has to be the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. The gratitude I feel for her monumental achievements in blessing mankind is ongoing. Far more than just a lone woman who overcame human obstacles, a women's libber if you will--the way Boston has tried to portray her--the avenues she established through God's direction and survived in doing so by leaning on Him, are still blessing people around the globe. I am in her debt, and happy to be so.
But to my next example of someone head and shoulders above many is my friend Betty, a fellow Tennessean and a Journal listed practitioner. I only just learned that it was she who made the comment on one of my entries, "Turning back to God" about the movement being dead but the Cause continuing. This has sparked much comment around the world, and she needs credit for it. This lady thinks for herself, has a clear sense of what is right about our Cause, and what is wrong. And she does not hesitate to say so, to patients or those in authority. It is always a shot in the arm for me to talk with her about serious issues concerning Christian Science. Some weeks ago I wrote a poem in tribute to her and well, let me give it here:
"Want to Hear Something Good?"
I have a friend here in town,
Betty, who does this habitually,
who when a bank teller or store
clerk says, "Have a good day"
replies substantially:
I know I will. God gave me
this good day, and I don't intend
to pollute it with fear or anger
or ingratitude or feeling down.
I'm going to appreciate this
day God has given
to all His children.
It's up to me to decide
what I'm going to do with it.
Now, you might be thinking,
Ah, she just ignores real issues,
thinks about things superficially.
She ought to have my problems!
This woman's challenges are such
that I would not want to, indeed,
could not, walk in her shoes
for a single day.
But she leans on God
in every way,
and He brings her through.
(Just thought I'd share
this with you.)
Friday, November 28, 2008
Note to my Readers
As some of you have expressed to me that you would like to identify yourself on my blog, but prefer to have your comments private, I have decided to give you my email address which is: shslhowell@aol.com
Or, if you have access to The Christian Science Journal you can find me under "Tennessee", as I am a listed practitioner. I can understand that if you have comments of a sensitive nature regarding our Cause, or wish to express thoughts that are more personal, you would like this to be between you and me, and not viewed by the whole world.
Your feedback is valued, and I look forward to receiving it, whichever way you choose to give it.
Or, if you have access to The Christian Science Journal you can find me under "Tennessee", as I am a listed practitioner. I can understand that if you have comments of a sensitive nature regarding our Cause, or wish to express thoughts that are more personal, you would like this to be between you and me, and not viewed by the whole world.
Your feedback is valued, and I look forward to receiving it, whichever way you choose to give it.
What the world is hungry for
Of course, countless men, women and children around the world need bread. Of course, they do. But it is my feeling that they need to hear the teachings of Christ Jesus more. Two small experiences recently bring this home to me:
We were walking our dogs in a local park as we regularly do when a young girl jogged by us. We had seen her before but this day, she turned back and said: "You don't know what your happy faces do for me!" Total surprise as we didn't know she needed to see some joy expressed. Caused us to feel humble and glad we were of some uplift to a person in need. Subsequently, we had opportunities to share just what it is that she felt those mornings, that it is love for Jesus' words that give us such joy in life. Turns out she, too, is quite religious. And one of these mornings, I intend to introduce Christian Science to her , just to give it credit for helping me understand Jesus' words and works, helping me with the challenges that inevitably arise in everyone's life.
The second heart-warming experience involves a librarian from Cardiff, Wales. She had received one of my books, and a poem in it, admittedly fervent for Christ Jesus, so touched her that she said in an email it has made her want to get back to the New Testament and read all Jesus said and did! Nothing I could have done could have brought about this result, certainly not being motivated to change someone, or get something for myself in return. No, it was, however slight it may be at this point, loving the Master's words, and making the effort to put them into practice. To know this woman's heart was warmed toward Christ means the world to me.
Both these instances show that people are hungering for what God alone has to give through His Holy Son, Christ Jesus. And to think that you and I are privileged to help feed the world's hunger in this heavenly work of loving and living Jesus' words.
We were walking our dogs in a local park as we regularly do when a young girl jogged by us. We had seen her before but this day, she turned back and said: "You don't know what your happy faces do for me!" Total surprise as we didn't know she needed to see some joy expressed. Caused us to feel humble and glad we were of some uplift to a person in need. Subsequently, we had opportunities to share just what it is that she felt those mornings, that it is love for Jesus' words that give us such joy in life. Turns out she, too, is quite religious. And one of these mornings, I intend to introduce Christian Science to her , just to give it credit for helping me understand Jesus' words and works, helping me with the challenges that inevitably arise in everyone's life.
The second heart-warming experience involves a librarian from Cardiff, Wales. She had received one of my books, and a poem in it, admittedly fervent for Christ Jesus, so touched her that she said in an email it has made her want to get back to the New Testament and read all Jesus said and did! Nothing I could have done could have brought about this result, certainly not being motivated to change someone, or get something for myself in return. No, it was, however slight it may be at this point, loving the Master's words, and making the effort to put them into practice. To know this woman's heart was warmed toward Christ means the world to me.
Both these instances show that people are hungering for what God alone has to give through His Holy Son, Christ Jesus. And to think that you and I are privileged to help feed the world's hunger in this heavenly work of loving and living Jesus' words.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Grateful
"You may have a
Daughter somewhere
who is more grateful
to You than I am,"
I tell my heavenly Father.
"But I doubt it",
I always tell Him.
(c) By: Sharon Slaton Howell
Originally published 2006
Daughter somewhere
who is more grateful
to You than I am,"
I tell my heavenly Father.
"But I doubt it",
I always tell Him.
(c) By: Sharon Slaton Howell
Originally published 2006
Travel Outside His Presence? Impossible
(Reading a fuller account just now in The New York Times of the Mumbai terrorist attack, as well as thinking of all the extra travel many of us will be doing this Thanksgiving holiday, the following lines have come to thought...)
When we have a trip to make,
whether we drive, fly or sail,
it isn't necessary to have
with us a security detail.
We can feel protected
wherever we need to go.
We can feel God's presence,
and complete safety know.
Jeremiah 23:24 has God asking,
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?"
One can depend on this
for all he or she is worth.
This assures me that
His help is at hand
wherever we happen to
go throughout the land.
Perpetually at work
is God's power divine,
to oversee and guard
your precious life and mine.
How comforting to think
God is with us everywhere;
it isn't possible to be
outside His loving care.
When we have a trip to make,
whether we drive, fly or sail,
it isn't necessary to have
with us a security detail.
We can feel protected
wherever we need to go.
We can feel God's presence,
and complete safety know.
Jeremiah 23:24 has God asking,
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?"
One can depend on this
for all he or she is worth.
This assures me that
His help is at hand
wherever we happen to
go throughout the land.
Perpetually at work
is God's power divine,
to oversee and guard
your precious life and mine.
How comforting to think
God is with us everywhere;
it isn't possible to be
outside His loving care.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Turning back to God, Part 2
I almost think there will be many parts to what I posted originally on getting back to our God. While driving back from breakfast this Friday morning, do you know what thought came clearly? Our Cause is in the hands of angels! Have no idea just why this came, nor fully what it means. But it came, and I'm passing it along. Men (and one woman) cannot destroy what God is upholding, can they?
And another brief mention of something I read in the Wall Street Journal last night that bears on what we're thinking about--and doing--turning back to God. Daniel Henniger has the most riveting piece called "Mad Max and the Meltdown." Look it up on the Internet if you're inclined, or get a copy of the paper. I won't quote him directly, but oh what a vivid writer. Such talent, as I told him in a glowing letter written some weeks ago. But the gist of his timely, fresh, attention-grabbing article is this: America is in the trouble it's in because of one thing: the de-religizing of everything, being ashamed and feeling it politically incorrect to even utter the phrase, Merry Christmas. I couldn't agree more. As he says plainly, when a country gets to this point, it is in serious difficulty.
Then swing the discussion over to our Church. Can you not see the parallels? Of course you can. I certainly can. So let us do our best for our God and get Christ Jesus front and center in our beloved Christian Science once more!
And another brief mention of something I read in the Wall Street Journal last night that bears on what we're thinking about--and doing--turning back to God. Daniel Henniger has the most riveting piece called "Mad Max and the Meltdown." Look it up on the Internet if you're inclined, or get a copy of the paper. I won't quote him directly, but oh what a vivid writer. Such talent, as I told him in a glowing letter written some weeks ago. But the gist of his timely, fresh, attention-grabbing article is this: America is in the trouble it's in because of one thing: the de-religizing of everything, being ashamed and feeling it politically incorrect to even utter the phrase, Merry Christmas. I couldn't agree more. As he says plainly, when a country gets to this point, it is in serious difficulty.
Then swing the discussion over to our Church. Can you not see the parallels? Of course you can. I certainly can. So let us do our best for our God and get Christ Jesus front and center in our beloved Christian Science once more!
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