"I love Christian Science nursing! One of my college jobs was working as a  Christian Science nurse’s aide, and many years later, I worked as the  administrator for a Christian Science nursing facility.

 Over the years, I often thought that because the Christian Science Nurse By-Law is a part of the chapter in the Church Manual on “Discipline” and is part of the Article “Guidance of Members,” (and because I am a member) it must relate to the discipline and guidance of how I practice Christian Science. But how?" 

So begins the Christian Science Nursing blog from the new online Christian Science Journal.  Click here to read more!

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In the midst of the shock of a friend's suicide or suicide attempt, there is a law of Love that brings comfort, order, and even peace to those who remain.

It is understandable that people are greatly affected by a suicide. It might not be clear why a suicide has happened.  Feelings of guilt in the form of arguments "If only I would have done more ...." or anger, helplessness, sadness or exhaustion may come up, and sometimes it might even e frequent and aggressive.  Whereas denial or perfunctory prayer may be the route we fall into, it is important that these feelings be recognized and dealt with square on.  

A relationship with a friend starts with Love and this Love is what persists and heals.  Througout your friendship, and even now, the love for your friend persists.

 "Divine Love is never so near as when all earthly joys seem most afar." (1) You are never alone.  Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and an insistence to make sense out of what seems senseless.  Whereas it may seem the situation is out of control, divine Love asserts its supremacy, helping to lift a false sense of responsibility.

There is no shame in struggling.  We need to remember Mary Baker Eddy's life included trauma and personal, physical, financial and social struggles.  Each challenge brought new views of God's goodness and love, deepened her resolve, expanded her sense of the infinite nature of God's Truth and Love. Out of that life, came the full revelation of Christian Science, and with that, a more permanent peace, abundant good, and satisfying love.

It is important to realize your connection to God and your connection to others, as well as to your friend.  It is as impossible to be separate from God as it is to separate a number from the numeric system.  There is one Father, God, and in Him we are forever at one.

You may ask, But what can I do?

Ask yourself - did I love?  Your love for your friend is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10) and is a direct reflection of God.  Your expression of love is like a light.  It cannot be hid.  It removes darkness.  Be assured that your love for your friend had an impact.  It brought light. You have done what you should when you love.

The most loving thing you can do for your friend is to see them as God sees them, as made in God's image and light.  It is the affirmation of their spiritual qualities that grows and develops the strength for you to move forward with your life. It is a reminder of the meaning that this friendship has.  The spiritual qualities you see in your friend are qualities that always stay with you.  Humor, intelligence, joy, perseverance and other such qualities - are all ideas that never die, and can never be taken away.

Each of you have a direct relationship to God.  Each of you have your own salvation to work out. And we can respect that. We are blessed to have each other on our journeys.  But we are not God to our friends.  We can rest assured that God is Father -Mother to us all.  It is God that guards and guides and directs us.  And God is continuing to love, direct, guide and protect your friend in the way that is the most meaningful to your friend.  

And finally, love yourself.  The aggressive suggestion that this was your fault needs to be put to rest.  No false sense of responsibility can blind you to Love's gentle presence now.  You can feel this now.  And if you can feel this, you know your friend can feel this as well.  You can remember how delightful life is.  You can remember what gives life meaning and what gave meaning to your friendship.  It is allright to cry, to wash away all that which doesn't come from God.  And it is allright to feel joy again, to feel happiness and delight.  Letting in the joy restores our lives and makes us remember the very essence of friendship.

Your life has been touched by your friend, and will not be the same.  You have grown more deeply in compassion, more wise about what matters in life, and more confident in the unchanging nature of Love.

We are never alone.  That is the nature of Love and is the great gift of friendship.






1 Miscellany, p. 290

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When I think of God's tenderness and the satisfying feeling I get when feeling God's protection, I think about the times when I have prayed with my sons.  I have a mental picture of times when they were both around three years old. 

My older son, as a toddler, would gather all his stuffed toys and place them in a circle in the stair's sunny landing.  He'd invite me to come and join  them and talk about God.  I'd find a spot, usually between Rilla the  gorilla and the as-yet-to-be-named orangutan, and we would riff on all the many  qualities of God...Love, Truth, Spirit.  We talked about how good God is,  and how God loved everyone.  In his little world, he was full of knowing God's safety and Love's ever present joy.  In my prayer, I knew exactly the same thing.

In another recurring event, my youngest would sit with me while I did my morning prayer work.  He would gather his legos, and plop down on a sunny spot on the carpet, next to me, sitting in the oversized family chair.  Feeling peaceful, my toddler son would create and discover new forms with his legos, actively engaged in his work, wordlessly confident that as is well.  And I would be praying as he would be playing and I realized that we were both discovering new dimensions of God's creativity and love, actively engaged in knowing that all is well.

A friend once said that there was nothing more satisfying than being in a house of sleeping children.  I knew she meant more than just having some quiet.  (Although that was always welcome.)  But it was more about a reminder that we are all God's children, "cared for, watched over, beloved and protected". (See Christian Science Hymnal, No. 278).  Sometimes, it takes a little child to remember what is so naturally known to children, and that persistently applies to all of us.








A song for all of us children:

Pilgrim on earth, home and heaven are within thee,
Heir of the ages and child of the day.
Cared for, watched over, beloved and protected,
Walk thou with courage each step of the way.

Truthful and steadfast though trials betide thee,
Ever one thing do thou ask of thy Lord,
Grace to go forward, wherever He guide thee, 
Gladly obeying the call of His word.

Healed is thy hardness, His love hath dissolved it,
Full is the promise, the blessing how kind;
So shall His tenderness teach thee compassion,
So all the merciful, mercy shall find.