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Author Archives: Karen Molenaar Terrell
Universal Love…
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Introduction to Blessings
Introduction to Blessings: Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist –
“Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.”
-From Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
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Years ago an old boyfriend said to me, “I can’t see that Christian Science has made you any better than anyone else.”
“I know!” I said, nodding my head in complete and happy agreement, “But can you imagine what I’d be like without it?!”
He raised his eyebrows and laughed. What could he say? He was looking at a self-centered, moralistic, stubborn idealist who saw everything in terms of black and white. But I could have been worse. I believe without Christian Science I would have been worse.
Let’s get one thing clear from the start: I am not the best example of a Christian Scientist. I’m not as disciplined as I could be. I have fears and worries and doubts. I’m a little neurotic. I am the Lucy Ricardo of Christian Scientists.
I should probably put in a disclaimer here, too—the views expressed in these pages are not necessarily the views shared by other Christian Scientists. Christian Scientists are really a pretty diverse group of people—there are Democrat Christian Scientists and Republican Christian Scientists, “Green,” and “Red,” and “Blue” Christian Scientists, and Christian Scientists with no political affiliations at all. Frankly, I like that about us. We keep each other on our toes.
I should also tell you that this book is not an authorized piece of Christian Science literature. If you want to actually study Christian Science you should probably read the textbook for this way of life, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
My purpose for writing this epistle is really two-fold (I don’t think I’ve ever used the word “two-fold” in my life, and using it now is making me feel sort of professorial. I like the feeling.):
First-foldly, to introduce you to one Christian Scientist so that if you ever hear someone talking fearfully and ignorantly (feargnorantly?) about Christian Scientists you’ll be in a position to say, “I have a friend who’s a Christian Scientist, and, although it’s true she’s a bit of a nut, she’s also…” and you can go on and talk about how your friend has used her study of Christian Science to try to make the world a happier place.
Second-foldly, I feel the need to acknowledge God’s blessings in my life. I don’t want to be like those nine lepers in the Bible who couldn’t take the time to thank Jesus for healing them. I want to be like that one leper who “fell down on his face at his feet” before Jesus and gave him thanks (Luke 17). Through my study of Christian Science I’ve witnessed some incredible proofs of our Father-Mother God’s love for Her creation in my life. God has filled my life with infinite blessings and it’s time for me to acknowledge these blessings to others.
Unforced Unfoldment
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Snippets from the Week
Highlights from the week…
A caregiver came in to wake my 97 year-old Dad up and tend to him this morning. “Don’t wake me up. I’m having a dream that I’m driving,” he said.
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Uprising at The Home: Apparently Moz is rabble-rousing at the retirement home. “Yam chips are not supposed to be served cold,” Moz told me indignantly, and then told me that she let the cook know her feelings about this matter. She said the other ladies at her table in the dining hall agreed with her. “We need to make our voices heard!” Moz told them.
Right on, Moz! Power to the people!
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I have discovered a new espresso place near Moz and Dad’s – a cheery little walk-in. After I’d ordered my lavender-flavored green iced tea I turned around to find a place to sit while I waited for it, and settled myself into a comfy chair. It was…
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Love Does Not Depend…
“This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death.”
– Mary Baker Eddy
Hey, anybody seen the nuts?
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Where Happiness Lives
Poet (and son) extraordinaire, wrote this one after a visit to Europe. He happened to be in Lucerne when they were celebrating their humongo annual festival there, and witnessed law enforcement at its finest… 🙂
Where Happiness Lives
Golden lights
And the deepest shadows
Smiling faces illuminated by life
A commodity where I come from
An inherent condition here
Where joy runs rampant
Like that one naked man who
In the presence of a police officer
Streaked across the town in the wake
Of the city-wide party
The officer laughing in mutual enjoyment
Before calling the man by his first name
As a friend and neighbor
To get his shit together.
– Xander Terrell, from the book Artful Living
An Upright Generation
… he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper… Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
– Psalms
“What are the things that you can’t see that are important? I would say justice, truth, humility, service, compassion, love. You can’t see any of those, but they’re the guiding lights of life.”
– Jimmy Carter
This week I learned that Win passed away “in his sleep.” His daughter wrote to tell us that he was “happy and healthy” and that his passing was a “beautiful demonstration of the Science that he loved.” Win was a month away from 96 at the time of his passing, so it wasn’t really surprising to get this news. But I feel his loss, just the same.
Winston Banko, 1920 to 2016
Oddly, he and his late wife, Connie, had been a lot on my mind recently. A more charming couple you would never meet. They sparkled. Win was witty and smart and dashing – renowned for his ornithological studies (click here to learn more about Win’s life) . Connie was lively and pretty and fun. They both had a great sense of humor and wonderful laughter, and I never left their company without a smile on my face and a heart warmed by their kindness.
I’d met them when I moved to this area more than thirty years ago and began attending the local Christian Science church. They were among my first friends here. I immediately took to them. They were of my parents’ generation and shared a remarkably lot in common with my parents – they, like my parents, were avid nature-lovers. Like my parents, they were cultured, and well-read, and had a wonderful sense of humor about life. All of them had survived the Great Depression, and Win and my dad (click here to learn more about Dad’s life) had both served in World War II. When I’m with people of that generation I always feel safe and secure – I know I’m with people who have survived times of great upheaval and challenge and have come through these times wiser and braver and kinder. The people of my parents’ generation have always seemed invincible to me, somehow.
But they’re leaving us now. My dad will be 98 in another month. My mom is not too far behind him. And I guess it’s time for my generation to move to the helm of the ship, but… yikes, right?! I don’t think I’m ready for The Greatest Generation to leave us just yet. I want them to hang around with us a little longer and help us get through the challenges looming on our national horizon.
Yup. I have to admit that there’s a wistful part of me that would like to see The Greatest Generation’s Jimmy Carter run for President again. Now THERE is an upright man…
Zen Moment in the Secret Garden
And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.
– Frances Hodgson Burnett
Recorded the birdsong and flowers I found in my garden this morning – I wish I could give you the fragrance, too… 🙂
Click here for a zen moment in Karen’s Secret Garden.
Karen’s Secret Garden
Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist 