My thoughts about Reading Room

It was great to be in a meeting with everyone. Seems like forever since I’ve seen everybody, probably has been.

Since I’m not going to be present in the meetings I just wanted to share some things I’ve been thinking about.

I really appreciated Sharon’s insight and inspiration regarding a downtown presence for Christian Science. Also Joan’s observations about the leavening and ministering activity of the window displays. Although I mentioned the option of moving the RR into the church, interestingly it would personally be a challenge for me as it would make it very difficult to hold my class and Association on the church campus with a public RR activity taking place. But whether I personally would want such a change isn’t relevant to what is the right and highest idea, and so I think every option should be honestly considered.

TMC is making a huge effort to balance their budget and have only those publishing activities which are profitable. Where ministering fits in this model hasn’t been determined, but it’s interesting to consider profitability as one possible criteria for decision-making.

As one who had a highly visible office for decades and then moved into an “invisible” office at home, I’ve noticed that there are ways to bring Christian Science to the public, display and sell books without paying rent. It does involve commitment of thought, energy and desire as well as a willingness to be personally visible in the public. However, these are all qualities of the wonderful Reading Room staff.

I’d vote with Ceacy to distribute literature through the free box on the outside of the Reading Room. Although some might see that as counter to promoting sales, it actively speaks to the human heart and makes the RR 24/7. Distributing literature this way could be seen as a core element of the purpose of Reading Room to exhibit literature. It’s exhibiting and allowing people to take the exhibit with them. 

Of course I’m all for messages on a techie screen. I’ve noticed that the scrolling ones move too slowly to read more than a few words as one drives or walks by. But the scroll does attract attention even from a car, so if the message is short it works. I love the idea of inviting the community to the RR to share their healings.

Perhaps the vision of RR as public bookstore can be uplifted to RR as demonstrating the value of the books and literature for sale there. That would make a reason for a location.

I’m wondering if the RR could be a “healing centre”? “For where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt 18:20 I’ve often wondered if today’s RR might have changed from a place to simply obtain information, which one now can get from church websites, to a place where one can come for genuine Christian healing when one is worried, burdened, sick. Other churches have Christian counseling centres. Couldn’t the RR be our Christian healing centre?

As church open during the week, perhaps RR embodies the newness of spiritual healing. A Christian Science friend went to a healing centre in Boston [not a RR] where Christians gathered and actively prayed for those present. She was going on a fact finding mission, but actually found herself healed of a chronic illness while there. It was a truly healing atmosphere which the Christian staff established through silent and audible prayer and Scripture reading.

What if our RR advertised that this was a place to come, be prayed for/with, be healed and find healing for others? This thought might also increase attendance at our services if some members were actively interested in praying with visitors before, during and after the services in ways that they could relate to and recognize as healing prayer. What an interesting concept of ushering, to offer to pray with people, affirming the spiritual truth and denying whatever is unlike God’s creation. Anyway, back to RR, then inviting the public to come share their healings fits with coming to be healed.

It doesn’t make a RR a practitioner’s office, but the centre for the impersonal Christ whose action always heals and saves. Those who want or need more individual attention could then be encouraged to call local practitioners, in and out of the Journal. While such a concept means more staff working together at the same time rather than less, focusing on the healing purpose and activity of the RR might motivate members to unite/work together for that purpose. When the question is asked, What is a Christian Science Reading Room, what if the answer becomes, A place to be healed, comforted and saved, and to share how God has healed, comforted and saved you.

Whatever the committee decides, I’ll be all for it.