"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
It is my Rock’ and also a ‘goodly heritage’.
Mary Baker Eddy (S & H 593:18) defines Rock as ‘Spiritual foundation; Truth’. Since joining the Mother Church over 30 years ago it has been a constant in my life. Through loss of family, job loss, and any other problem which mortal mind likes to try and make real there has always been this ‘rock’ just waiting for me to climb back onto and rest in God’s loving care. No matter what the circumstances there has always been the abiding thought that the only thing which works is Christian Science and whenever I turn back towards God there is always the Mother Church just waiting to welcome me and point the way.
I also like to think of the Mother Church as being part of a ‘goodly heritage’. Having been brought up in Christian Science my earliest memories are of those loving branch church members who, along with my parents, gave me that love of God which has never left me. Most of those individuals have passed on but what these branch church and Mother Church members gave me is a goodly heritage which I cherish.
In 2006 my father passed away and as I sorted through his possessions I found things relating to previous generations which no-one had looked at for many years. With all this information I decided to try and research the ’family’. It took me about a year of hitting a brick wall at each turn to start asking myself if the search was worth it. I came to the conclusion that previous generations and heritage were not important and put the search away.
Shortly afterwards I started another ancestry search which still continues. This search? A better understanding and a closer relationship with my Father Mother God. This search gave me opportunities to grow which included three years service as second reader, and by taking class instruction.
Taking primary class instruction was the most wonderful two weeks. I also finally realised just how thorough my Sunday School teachers had been in preparing me for the road I now walk along.
At the toughest times in my life it was always the teachings of those teachers which came back to help in my hour of need. I can remember sitting in Sunday School being made to learn things by rote but thirty years later I had reason to be so grateful for being taught that way. I express gratitude every Sunday as I pray silently using some of those early lessons. I still have the letter from my Sunday School teacher as I was leaving Sunday School providing loving guidance as to the next steps.
I look back now and understand that those branch church members are my family. I don’t need family trees to know who I am or where I come from. Today, as I look round my local branch church I see loving members who are part of that goodly heritage.
This is what being a member of the Mother Church means to me.
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Ps 16:5,6