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A guest post written by Sue Barber
When I was new to Christian Science, I loved to go to the local Christian Science Reading Room – a place to quietly pray and to find spiritual answers. I appreciated the welcoming staff member, who was happy to answer any questions I had, but most of all I cherished going into the study room, where I was left to study and pray. I remember that at the time I felt I had so many questions and doubts, and no good answers. Away from the cares and demands of everyday living, I just soaked up the inspiration, the guidance, the encouragement, and the feeling that God loved me. As I studied, I found a firm foundation for peace, happiness, and healing by learning to turn to God. The availability of this Reading Room and others I visited played a major role in opening my thought to God.
These spiritual oases are found in cities, towns, and villages all around the world. When I visit a Reading Room, I have always felt welcomed, refreshed, and surrounded by inspiration, whether I’ve stayed for a short or a long time. I’ve found these quiet Reading Rooms are great places to read, pray, ponder, sort out, recharge, and heal. Many have found inspiration here to rise above problems of any kind: health, emotional, relationship, job, supply, family, community, national, and world problems, and see that there are solutions.
How?
Reading Rooms are packed with more than a hundred years of inspiring poems, articles, accounts of healing that awaken spiritual sense and help us know that all is well, that God is present with each of us, and that God loves us, cherishes us, and sees us as S/He has made us – perfect, all good, complete. Reading Rooms stock Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, written by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, as well as Bibles, Bible reference materials, and a wide variety of inspirational music.
I encourage anyone who is searching for spiritual answers to visit a Christian Science Reading Room – I feel deep gratitude for the answers I have found and continue to find there.
About the author
Thanks Sue for so beautifully capturing the treasure that is the Christian Science Reading Room. What a blessing the open doors of this special place are for all seekers.
Thank you Sue! I also love a Reading Room! When my husband was in the service, many years ago, no matter where we went, far away from our home, when I walked into a Christian Science Reading Room, I was at home with things I knew and people that cared about me!
As a matter of fact, after taking him to L.A.X. watching him board a plane bound for an Army base up north, then off to Viet Nam in 1969, and we’d only been married 1 month, 2 hours and 45 minutes, to boot, the first place I went was into the Reading Room which was located in the terminal! What a safe haven from the fears and sadness that was trying to take my peace! The window had a big sign which read “And life most sweet as hear to heart speaks kindly when we meet and part.” from a poem by Mary Baker Eddy which is also Hymn # 30 in the Christian Science Hymnal. How beautifully comforting that was to me.
Now some 44 years after, I realize how wonderful it was to have a Reading Room with its healing message of the Christ right there so everyone traveling could be blessed by its message! Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration with us today!
Thanks Sue. I love Christian Science Reading Rooms. I feel the same way you do. They are a haven of peace and comfort and we can find inspiration there.
I have always worked on the Reading Room committee of whatever church I was a member. I’ve served as Librarian and also just as a volunteer worker. Right now I serve in two different Reading Rooms, my branch church Reading Room and a neighboring branch church’s Reading Room. They were short on help so I volunteered and it has been a great blessing for me and I think for them. I get to share Christian Science with many people who have not heard of it.
I am grateful for all the Reading Rooms around the world. When you walk into one of them you instantly feel at home.
It’s a great thing to tell people about the Reading Rooms. So many have seen them, but not understood their purpose. Christian Science Reading Room may sound like a place only for Christian Scientists. Fortunately there is usually a sign that says “Public Welcome.”
A dear friend told me that, one day when out of work and funds he started off on his usual search for employment and also to sell his last possession – a fountain pen – when he came to a Christian Science Reading Room and felt impelled to go in. Another voice said “Oh, no – you’re not going to spend time there when you need to be looking for a job!” But he listened to the first voice and actually spent the day there, praying and listening for divine direction.He went back to his room, where he was locked out for lack of rent payment, but given a cot in the janitor’s closet. It’s a longer story, but the short version is that he was led to call on a friend and was given the money he needed to pay the rent – ended up in a new room freshly furnished – and later was invited to live in a mansion while the owners were traveling – rent free.
The time spent in the Reading Room focussed his thought on divine direction and the confidence in God’s ability to provide answers. It’s a lot more than a room with books in it.
What a lovely article on the value of the Christian Science Reading Rooms around the world. And I enjoyed the inspiring comments that followed.
As a librarian for my local Reading Room for almost ten years, I too can attest to its importance in the community in meeting the spiritual needs of countless people. I look back on that time of service with great appreciation and enjoyment.
Thank you for sharing your grateful thoughts.
I appreciate your comments on the reading rooms. Your comments encouraged me to reflect on all the good I have received from using the reading rooms for study and reflection.
This is a great article, thank you so much writing it! Often times I have friends who know I’m a Christian Science ask me to explain the purpose of a Reading Room. I can now direct them to this post, because I think it does a wonderful job of explaining it! Thank you Sue!