Thursday, April 29, 2010

Mixing Grey and "Black" Socks. How Gauche.

I am glad that my parting remark in the second entry before this one was not, apparently, greatly misinterpreted. I intended to put a note on the last entry, but Concerned must have had me in a hopeless tizzy. My remark was aimed at the proliferating kudzu, and that seems to have been understood in spite of a few angry gibes.

Concerned's latest remarks are interesting and obviously sincere. I may be wrong, but Concerned may be of a later generation or two than I, a generation which might not view, say, '50's Sentinels and Journals as superior in all respects to those today. I believe the goal of Christian Science and the periodicals is to attract those very few "honest seekers for Truth", not everyone who can be dragooned into joining ready or not. One million new "members" with scant interest in or understanding of Christian Science would not somehow result in a critical mass reaction leading to a revitilization of the Church (though Concerned made no such claim).

I do feel Concerned is inclined to cut the Board too much slack. They don't seem to mind slicing themselves a most generous piece of the financial pie, but come up way short (I think) where blessings and benefits to Christian Science and the Church are concerned. Of course it's a huge challenge, but truly honest "Directors" would compensate themselves as businesses do for their top executives: offer a very modest base salary and then set some challenging--repeat, challenging--goals and pay a bonus only on their achievement. That would certainly separate genuine pontifices from phony panhandlers, but that is not going to happen where those who make the rules also get to referee the game.

I'll step aside and let our Leader squeeze in a few words: "To strike out right and left against the mist, never clears the vision; but to lift your head above it, is a sovereign panacea." (Mis 355: 16-18) The whole crackerjack article ("The Way"), from which this quote comes, needs in fact to be burned into my consciousness. No one would ever lose a thing by forgetting me and reading her. She is indeed the quill.

18 comments:

Supporter said...

I just love seeing what you have been pondering. This one has a lot in it.
Thanks!

L.R. said...

I really enjoyed reading this essay. But then, I always do where you are concerned, Christian.
You write so very well, and I hope you keep at this for a long time.

Anonymous said...

Thank for the laser-like quotation from "The Way".

I was thinking today .. at what point in our love mission is rebuke justified?

Anonymous said...

Good advice, turning more to what our Leader tells us to do, and paying less attention to human opinion.

Best from CA said...

Very well put, Christian. And "The Way" is also one of my favorites. An uplifting way to end this blog post.

Stephen said...

"Proliferating kudzu" -- that describes those comments you were getting that never knew when to quit.
Good blog post!

Greetings from Hawaii said...

I'm going to read what Mrs.Eddy says--and continue checking out your website. Besides enjoying the way you express yourself, you make a lot of good points that cause deeper thought, and for this, I thank you.

Nameless (for now) said...

A good essay. What I've found helpful to me in dealing with troublesome church issues and especially working around Boston is something Christ Jesus counsels: "Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
I find it takes both.

Florida CS said...

I do hope we're all ready to move on to higher ground spiritually speaking and leave the adjustment of things in Boston to the One who can do all things for us. At least this is what I intend to do.

Anonymous said...

I'm interested that some commenter on your website has actually mentioned the Founder of Christianity! This is rare from what I've noticed in reading your blog posts and the recent comments. Why is Christ Jesus left out almost entirely?

Lafayette, LA said...

Love your blog posts. Always so well thought out and presented.

D. H. said...

Thanks dear writer for another fine blog post. Like the way you've ended this one.

Cleveland, OH said...

I enjoy reading such fine writing, and I hope you will give us some more of those earlier strong metaphysical essays. They have helped me so much, Christian.

Anonymous said...

Interesting last line,but I do not think your appreciative readers are going to forget you anytime soon. You write too well for that.
Keep posting!

I'll be back said...

Very good essay here, blogger. Easy to see why you have a well-read site going.

Helen said...

You are such a blessing to the Field, in my humble opinion.
God bless you for giving out so much, Christian.

Thanks from CA said...

I do like your website. What a pleasure it is to read something by a fellow Christian Scientist that makes me think. You write so clearly,Christian.

Near Boston said...

Hi there Christian,
Can't wait to see what our inspired pen will give us next. We do need you thinking and writing on behalf of this religion we love.