Greetings and blessings from the Christian Science Reading Room at the San Francisco International Airport. Enjoy the fruitage reported by our attendants:

A young man came in this evening and asked what we were.  I briefly told him that we were Christianity with healing and that Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed and wrote a book about it.  Those who read it and studied Christian Science became healers in most cases, or at least found themselves healed just by reading the book.  He shared that he needed healing and went on to tell me that the addiction of the plague of his family and himself.  Interestingly he said that he gave up other organizations because he found that the affirmation of the powerlessness at every meeting was no longer helpful to him.  I began to talk to him about power, sharing that nothing can take away man’s power or dominion.  He has to give it up willingly.  I told him he should take the power back from it.  He said, “I only have power over the first drink.”  I suggested he had power over every drink and every sip of every drink, although the drink is believed to weaken a person physically and mentally.  Most people who don’t drink at all or drink very little never give power to it.  I shared that my son and his father before him, had that problem.  One gave it up, one has not. I asked, “Do you want to buy a good book?”   He said, “Yes but I cannot fit it in my luggage.”  I showed him the marble edition, and he said, “Oh, that will fit.” I suggested he read the Preface and start reading wherever.  He shared that he did not really understand the Bible or that the stories did not make sense to him.  I said, “You have just purchased the Key to the Scriptures.  This book will light up the Bible for you.”  He said that he must have been meant to come into the store.  He gave me his phone number and email address, and I have already thanked him for coming in and hope to keep a dialog going.  Addiction is so personal that I have never healed anybody except myself of tobacco addiction, and that was a struggle because I did it without Christian Science.  But Science and Health has healed many people of addiction to nicotine simply by their having read the book.

A passenger from one of the airlines came in and asked if we were Christian.  I said, “Oh yes! We practice Christianity with healing, which is Christ’s Christianity.”  He was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and some of her teachings based on the Bible.  He stopped me and I answered other questions about the Bible.   I told him a little of the efficacy of Christian Science healing and he talked about the Coronavirus.  I wasn’t feeling well but was healed quickly with the help of a practitioner.  I was at the Wednesday evening testimony meeting, reading for my church on the topic of contagion, and I had a wonderful opportunity to put into practice the citations from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. I was healed.  Our visitor was amazed, and then I said, “May I show you this book?”  I pulled the English and the Spanish translations off the top shelf, and he whipped out $40 for the Spanish translation.  I said, “Let me tell you a little more.”  I told him about the Fruitage chapter, that the last hundred pages of Science and Health were documented healings and testimonies by people who were healed of every disease known to man, just by reading the book!  He said, “I was meant to have my flight cancelled and to come in here!”  He sat reading across from the desk and we continued chatting until my relief came.  We chatted and I answered questions for over 3 hours and it went so fast.   We went over the tenets.  I also showed him the churches in Chile in the Christian Science Journal. I am told he read until we closed at 9pm.

An attendant told me he had a visitor come in and ask, “What is Christian Science?”  He was told that Mary Baker Eddy had written Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures to set forth Jesus’ healing method which she discovered in the Scriptures.  The attendant presented the book as a companion to the Bible, and how it presents the spiritual interpretation or import of the Scriptures.  When asked what that meant, he turned fortuitously to the page in the Glossary where “Eyes” are defined as spiritual discernment–“Having eyes, see ye not?”  The Glossary explains that and helps the reader to see the spiritual import of the Bible.  The gentleman then asked, “Can I buy that book?”  The attendant showed him a marble paperback copy and he readily purchased it.  He said the conversation only lasted a few minutes.

We got a visitor this morning whose flight was cancelled.  He had seen our store when he came into San Francisco and stopped in to look around.  I sort of disrupted him when I had to mark books in the window and we got to talking.  He had asked if I had a book by Kierkegaard. That told me he was a thinker.  I told him what we sold and I told him a little of Mary Baker Eddy and her book.  He said he was looking for a book, and I told him I have the best book I have ever read.  I pulled out the marble copy of Science and Health, telling him of some of the chapters that radically changed my thinking.  He said he would definitely like to have it and readily purchased it.  And here I was worried that I would disturb him by marking the books in the window behind him, but I walked right in there anyway and did so.  He also took some of our free literature, which sits next to the open door.  He told me he was glad his flight was cancelled.

A gentleman came in and wanted to know where Starbucks Coffee was.  I sent him to the arrivals level of Terminal 3, a good walk.  He returned with coffee, and happily sat and talked with me for at least an hour.  He wanted to charge his phone and I was grateful to have a visitor.  Well, he talked and talked, and began to share some challenges, and after a time, I pointed to the Christian Science textbook.  I said, “You have to buy this! Many of the answers are in here, and Mary Baker Eddy teaches her readers how to listen and hear the still small voice with all the answers.”  He said, “Yes! Let me give you cash!”  I told him that the book would bless and heal him, or solve other situations needing a divine touch or blessing.

A woman came in this afternoon who had arrived early and was taking a company-chartered bus to Half Moon Bay to a conference, so she had some time.  I explained a little of Christian Science and introduced her to Mary Baker Eddy and explained how she came to write her book.  She was shown the first sentence of Science and Health ^* and told how the book teaches us to handle fear, which is such an important part of healing.  She readily agreed.  I invited her to purchase Science and Health, but she declined, and then she asked me about how I came to it.  I shared my experience, and she asked me about my marriage and children, and I told her.  She is also a single parent of two young children, one of whom is only 5.  I told her how much Christian Science had helped me raise my children and support my family.  I told her to just know that all her needs would be and are being met.  She told me she wasn’t religious, but I told her that she should never doubt that God was with her helping her.  “He shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11) I told her my mom helped me, but she said that she did not have anyone here in the United States.  She is from China but lives in Ohio and works for a university there.  We talked for a long time, and she expressed gratitude that we took the time to talk to her.

* “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love.” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 1:1–4).

A lovely man came in and began looking around, and I ended my phone call to a regular telephone visitor and invited him to come and sit down.  He asked about Christian Science and listened very attentively as I introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and to her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures and explained how Mrs. Eddy came to write her book.  When invited, he readily purchased a marble copy and asked me to inscribe the inside of it to him and his wife whom he was meeting at the airport.  I wrote a beautiful blessing for them with the date.  By then my relief was there and I excused myself to the study room to finish my phone call to the telephone patron.   Then awhile later he brought his wife back to meet to me, and one of our volunteers took a photo of us.  They were the sweetest couple. They are moving to Grass Valley, CA where we have a Christian Science church with a downtown Reading Room.

A young man who works at the airport for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was here when I came in, listening to an  explanation of Christian Science.  He had a lot of insightful questions and the attendant was doing a brilliant job fielding the questions.  I had questions for him and he was fairly articulate in his answers.  We encouraged him to purchase the book if he had a real interest in the spiritual import of the Bible, but he said he would be back.  He works fairly close to the Reading Room.

A woman came into the Reading Room and flopped down in the chair next to the first visitor and began chatting with the three of us.   She was also introduced to Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy and how she came to write her book after being encouraged to do so by a doctor who had witnessed one of her healings on one of his patients.  The woman immediately told us she was a healer and how she had prayed for some individuals and how they were healed.  And she loved the Bible.  She was invited to purchase the book but declined.  I thought maybe it was that some Christians are afraid to read anything but the Bible. But as it turned out, she had come to California to work for a political campaign, and her job had  abruptly ended after Super Tuesday, and she was on her way back to Chicago.  As the afternoon wore on, the other visitor left and she stayed until the end of my shift.  I had to work on some reports, but we chatted the entire time.  At some point I sensed a germaphobia about her.  I told her that she should never fear anything and explained that we are given that counsel specifically by Jesus and by Mrs. Eddy: “Be not afraid!”   I was led to purchase a book for her and give it to her. She was so grateful and has since called to tell us so.

An airline worker came in and told me that she wasn’t so good. She was on the verge of tears.  I got out the tissue box, and said kindly, “What’s going on?”  She told me she was afraid her Mom was going to die of a recurrence of cancer.  She had beaten it once and now it was back.  I said “Oh, don’t accept that!”  I introduced her to Mary Baker Eddy and her writings, but she wasn’t too receptive.  In retrospect I just should have told her I would pray for her and her mom.  She was inconsolable, but I was able to convey that there is no death nor death process.  She said she hoped that was true.  She rejected any literature because she had to meet a flight and everything was in her locker.  So I am praying for her to be comforted, and I know that God will find a way to get her the help and comfort she requires.

We just had an employee of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) come in and ask, “What is this place? I pass it all the time but really should ask.”  I told him we are a bookstore and we sell the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, who figured out how Jesus healed.  She got really good at it and taught other people how to do it, and eventually they wanted to start a church. So they did.  She had trouble getting her books published, so she started the Christian Science Publishing Society.  He asked if we had the book.  I showed him the one on display and I showed him the first page, first sentence of chapter one of the desk copy and read it out loud.  I said, “Do you want one?”  He said, “Yes I think I do.”  He gave me a $20 and would not accept the change!

A woman was waiting when I came in at 8am.  She really wanted some literature.  I immediately put the literature basket outside the door and she looked through it.  She selected a Christian Science Monitor and a Sentinel and remarked, “I wish more people knew of this wonderful literature you provide!” I could not help thinking, “It’s the best in the world.”  I said, “It provides solutions to every conceivable human problem!”    

A young man came in and said, “I’m not a Christian Scientist but would just like to look around and read for a bit.”  I certainly encouraged him to do so.  He looked through our older and free periodicals and after several minutes selected two Journals to take with him, securing them in his suitcase.  By his initial responses and quiet nature, I could tell he was one of our visitors who wasn’t so interested in conversation or discussion, so I didn’t press unnecessarily.  After looking through our displays, he asked me if we had any books that were authored other than by Mary Baker… (he struggled with the last name).  I said, “Oh, yes, by Mary Baker Eddy,” and I led him to the space behind the attendant’s desk and showed him several books that would meet his need including some of the autobiographies for sale. He spent about 10 minutes perusing and reading through various books and then turned around and said, “I’d like to buy this one.”  I exclaimed, “Excellent, you selected Science and Health!”  Despite his earlier comments, I had a sense that Science and Health was the book he was seeking and searching for all along.  By this point, my shift relief had arrived and all three of us engaged in friendly conversation about the young man’s travel plans and where he was from. The visitor departed very happy and grateful for his “find” and the on-coming attendant gave him directions to security and his connecting gate.

“Have you heard the good news today?”

An on-duty San Francisco City Police Officer walked in and exclaimed, “Have you heard the good news today?”  I said, “Well, I’m not quite sure what news you’re speaking of.” He said again, “Are you sure you haven’t heard the good news?  This is the day which the Lord hath made!”  And, in unison, we both finished the familiar Psalms 118 verse together, “we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  It was a wonderful moment.  The officer then shared with me how grateful he was we were “hanging in there” through the slower travel times of the pandemic and Terminal 1 construction.  He said, “I know there are times between flights where it can be a bit lonely but your presence here is so important, particularly at this time.”  We both agreed that God is always present with us no matter the circumstances.  This truth-affirming thought led us to share our veteran service status and our overseas deployment experiences with one another, his in Iraq and mine in Afghanistan.  The officer said, “You know what my greatest source of protection in Balad was?” He then proceeded to pull out of his leg pocket a small and well-worn tan deployment Bible and said, “The exact same ‘weapon of truth’ I carry with me for protection today!” I thanked him for both his military career service and his many years of community service as a police officer.  Onward, Christian soldiers!

We have a regular in-person visitor and a regular caller.  We nearly always read the Bible with the caller and we have read a bit of Revelation, and Exodus, and all of Esther, Job, Ephesians, Philippians, Romans, Jude, Zechariah, and other assorted books.  Several times I have been reading with him, and he will say, “That scares me,” or “I am afraid of that!”  I find that by that by reading with him, he finds nothing to fear and that it isn’t nearly as scary or complex as he thought.  And it helps me too.  It is like we are in “the safe space” of the Reading Room, where no night is

Over the years, our visitor has told me about various attacks on his thought.  I usually talk about what Jesus said, which is “with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you,” (Mark 4:24) which loosely translates, “What goes around comes around!”   This has always made him laugh and feel better. Today he called to tell me about a physical attack that happened to him in a convenience store about not having an adequate mask, and another attack started while I was on the phone with him.  Now I know that attack thoughts can be a source of those experiences, acting as invitations.  I referred him to some good reading I have been doing which has really helped me see things in Science and Health I had not seen before.  It is like reading it with renewed understanding.

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Donations Doubled until February 28, 2021.

We have a most generous donor who has offered to double what you give up to $6,000.  This will allow us to keep our doors open, open to travelers and open to the world community.  To make your donation, send a check to our Treasurer or visit our website at www.csreadingroom-sfo.org.  Our treasurer’s address is:

Harley Bennett, Treasurer, 23871 Willows Drive, #384, Laguna Hills, CA  92653

Greetings and blessings from the Christian Science Reading Room at the San Francisco International Airport. Enjoy the fruitage reported by our attendants:

I noticed a woman really studying the Czech translation of Science and Health, and I asked if she was interested in purchasing it. She was told it contained the mechanics or method of how Jesus healed mentally. The woman mentioned that she loved the two lan-guages on opposite pages, and she wanted it for her parents. She then told me that she had no money with her but that she might be back. We talked for a while, and since that translation has been in the window and has been here for several years (at least), I was contemplating giving her the book, but I restrained myself. A few minutes later she showed up with her purse and an adorable year-old cat, which her boyfriend decided that he did not want. She handed me a card and got her book and took a Christian Science Sentinel or two.

A French woman came in this morning and told me she had spoken to me over a year ago, and now asked if we could specifically pray for her fiancé. He had had lung surgery and was dying—and was in prison. She could only see him every six months and came to America to see him. She was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her book and shown the French translation of Science and Health. I offered it for sale but she declined. She said there was no way she could buy it. I asked her if I could buy it for her, and she declined. She said she had two visions of her fiancé. The one was the perfect man standing in front of her, dressed in a suit, healthy, handsome and free, and the other of the sickly inmate. I told her that the first vision was the truth, the Christ-like perfect man, and the second picture of poor mortal man was the illusion. I then asked her if she would accept the French translation of Science and Health as a gift. She said she would. I told her there was no doubt in my mind this man would be healed and free. She said that she felt like the hair on her arms was standing on end with a special energy in the room. I felt it too. And my heart sang like it always does when healing happens. I know that she has seen it. She gave us a Hershey bar to thank us. After she left I paid for the book. We have a very low cost in Science and Health translations because many are donated from other Reading Rooms.

A lovely woman came in and we talked for a long time. In our discussion, I kept coming back repeatedly to the basics of Christian Science: that God is good, that God is the only power, and that God’s creation is good and complete. She liked all that, but she kept coming back to Satan and the devil and, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” I said, “I can certainly understand that it can be looked at that way, but the more we go to Genesis 1 and the teachings of Jesus, the more of God’s goodness will fill up our lives.”  Then she was introduced to Science and Health.  She readily purchased it, and also took an October full-text Bible Lesson.

A man came in and asked if we had any Bibles. I said, “Yes,” and showed him the $10 paperback we have. I told him we could sell it for $6 (cost), and he said he did not have $6, only $1. I replied, “I’ll take it!” And I gave him the paperback Bible. He later came back and said that someone gave him $5, and he wanted to donate in appreciation!

 A woman came in and reached into the free literature basket of periodicals and said, “Whatever I select will be something to bless me. It always does!”

 A lovely woman came in and was looking at the children’s books. She was looking for the Commandments and Beatitudes in the board books for babes, as she had a 1½ year-old grandson. She started looking at the My Little Book About God and My Little Book About Prayer, which I had brought to show her. We went through the first book identifying the qualities of God in all the seven synonyms, and she loved it. Then she asked about My Little Book About Prayer, and we went through some of that with the spiritual interpretation on the bottom of the page that is the same color as the verse. I told her that it would set her grandson up for life if he could learn about God, and she said to me, “And his mom!” She purchased both books.  

A man came in who was so sad; he was going to a funeral. He had gotten a call from his sister-in-law that his brother had had a mild heart attack as a result of the sudden and unexpected passing of his nephew. I said what I could to comfort him: That there is no death, but that sometimes people have a short time on earth, and they go so unexpectedly and leave the rest of us stunned and deeply saddened. He told me how great this young nephew was, a real athlete, but that there was something fragile about his health. He got to spend six weeks every summer with this uncle in Montana every year, and he knew him well. I think we helped him as he opened up and worked through some of the sadness of all this, and we helped him see he can be a strength to his sister-in-law. He purchased the little pamphlet, “Overcoming Grief,” and gave us a nice donation of the change from $20.

A man came in who was locked out of his car in long term parking and needed a cell phone charge. He was invited into our study room with its wall USB port and he charged his phone for a long time. We talked and he was offered a lot of suggestions, but he had tried many and was very frustrated. I was sort of stuck in the story,  aware of the Bible Lesson for the next day’s church service, “Ancient and Modern Necromancy, Alias Mesmerism, and Hypnotism, Denounced.” The man stayed in the Reading Room until almost 10pm, spent the night in the airport, and met the locksmith the next day with a key.   He came in again the next day. I was surprised he had not worked it out yet. Apparently, the key he got would not start the car. Well, today I was on my game, just having prayed for someone trying to make her printer work from her phone. I told him, “Let me pray about that for you!” And, as earlier that day, I reached out to divine Mind and asked that the man be shown exactly who to call to get a new key, which would permit him to start the car. Within 10 minutes the manufacturer was sending a new key to the Kia dealer in Sacramento where he lives, and he is headed home to get it and will come back tomorrow to pick up the car. I told him I had prayed about it, and he said he got goosebumps when he heard that, because it worked!

A man came in and asked what we were, and if we were a store or just a Reading Room.  I said, “Both; we sell Bibles and Christian Science literature.” He said that he was religious, but that his mother was on a whole other level. I laughed and explained that Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed and wrote a great book about it. I pointed to it and told him I had it for $13. He was told Science and Health would light up the Scriptures for whomever reads it. He said, “I will just get that. My mom will love it.” He purchased the marble paperback. It is so rewarding to put Science and Health in the hands of a new recipient of this great Truth on the first shift of the month!

A man came in and was genuinely curious about what a Christian Science Reading Room was. I began to tell him a little of Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy and about how she came to write her book. As I told him more, he said, “Do you have that book for sale? Can I buy it?” I said of course, and I pulled it off the back wall. He readily purchased the marble paperback. He asked about the church services and our Pastor and I showed him the December Journal and the full-text Bible Lesson, and explained how we study Christian Science and listen and study the lesson sermon. He purchased a December full-text at a discount since it was late in the month. I couldn’t help thinking as he left that the book would bless him and he would bless others with it.

A man came in who might have been homeless.  He mentioned some of our churches he had attended, and mentioned that he had been in a number of shelters. I felt sympathy for him because as he talked, it was clear that he was sabotaging himself whenever he sought or got help. I eventually pointed it out to him, and shared that a lot of people do that and that he should really ask God to help him not to do that.  He asked if I had any Bibles. I gave him a $10 paperback and told him I paid $6 for it. He said, “I have a little money,” and handed me $6. I thought that was so nice. And it will have more value to him if he buys it. I pray to know that he knows he has all the help he needs—to stop the self-sabotage. 

A man with a thick French accent was rearranging some luggage near the entrance to the door and noticed me watching and said good morning. I smiled and said, “Good morning.”  He came in and said, “What do you do here in this place?” I told him we sold Bibles and Christian Science literature. Then he asked if I had anything for children, aged 5 and 6. I showed him the new book of Jesus’ Little Parables of the Kingdom. Then he asked if I had anything in French. I said no, but then I looked at the stack of Heralds, “Le Heraut.” I pulled out half the stack and began showing him the titles.   He picked three. Then I decided to talk a little about Science and Health and Christian Science to him. I showed him the French/English Science and Health, and he readily purchased it.   I told him I thought it would bless him and he would bless others with it. He was so receptive to it. I am grateful I was here. 

A young man in the psychiatric profession came into the Reading Room and asked who we were and what we had. He was told briefly about Mary Baker Eddy and her wonderful discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures. We had a splendid chat. He asked about my own healings and I told him a couple of big ones, and something very recent. He understood more than most about the power of the human mind to make a person well or sick. He asked how you yield to divine Mind while the human mind wants to be in charge. I told him that that is the hardest thing for anyone, even Christian Scientists, and some people are never able to do it. I quoted Mary Baker Eddy, “Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously.”  (S&H 392:25–27) Thus, admit nothing into your consciousness that you do not want manifest in your experience! And from that week’s lesson on Sacrament, Psalm 51:17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.” One reading of this verse can be that we have set aside the mortal thinking and turned whole-heartedly to God to help us.  We get self out of the way and then can easily see the help that is already there. Another verse that came to mind was: “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matt. 12:37) On this one, our words condemning ourselves to some illness or condition we do not want, will condemn us to suffer. We talked more about this and he was shown several quotations about that very topic.  He was so happy to purchase a paperback copy of Science and Health and used our study room to do some reading. He came out very surprised at what he was reading. I admitted that it is radical compared to what we are taught to believe, but it is the truth of God. 

A young man came in today and asked about Christian Science/ As I began to tell him that Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed and she herself began to heal, he recalled that he had heard of it in Michigan. As I continued to tell him more, he asked me if we had any testimonies of Mrs. Eddy’s. I showed him in Science and Health the Fruitage chapter and read him the first several paragraphs. He readily purchased a copy of Science and Health. 

 A man came in and asked about our store and what we sold. He was introduced to Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures. As I told this to him, he became more and more interested and asked if I had Science and Health  for sale.  He was shown the two paperback editions, as he was travelling. He readily purchased the marble paperback copy of Science and Health.

A wonderful man came in and said, “The last time I was here I saw this place and want to know what it is.” I began to tell him a little of Christian Science and he said, “Can I tell you why I am here?” He told me that he learned about meditation, and it was teaching him that our bodies are capable of any kind of healing.  Meeting him where he was, I told him he was right. Then he said, “I don’t want to be the kind of Christian who does it on faith alone. I want to understand it.” I said, “You need this book.  There are two chapters in here on Physiology and on Science, Theology and Medicine, that will blow you away.” I showed him two editions and he readily purchased a copy of Science and Health. I thanked him for the sale and mentioned that this was the first I have sold in a while. He asked why, and I told him that the thoughts of the visitors have not been open to it. He said, “What if I read this book and it changes my life?” I said, “Oh, it will.  It will light up those Scriptures for you and you will achieve a much higher level of understanding!” He then asked if we could pray together, and I readily agreed. He prayed that receptive people would come into the Reading Room and receive this great Truth of God which Mrs. Eddy has set before us. What a beautiful prayer!

A visitor came in and said that he had been passing our Reading Room in his travels and finally made some time to come in and find out about what this is. I closed my computer, invited him to sit down, and told him that Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed. I asked if he had five minutes and he said yes, so he was given an introduction to Mary Baker Eddy and how she discovered Christian healing in the Scriptures and came to write her book.  He asked some insightful questions, and I had the answers, and he told me he thought that we were capable of healing ourselves. I suggested he purchase Science and Health, and he did. 

A gentleman came in and asked what we were, and I essentially told him what I had told the previous visitor. He said that he was upset with all Christians because he found out his Christian wife was cheating on him and that his pastor told him he had to forgive her, even though she had not stopped. He just walked away two years ago. Then he comes into the Reading Room. I just loved him as best I could, like Mrs. Eddy told us to “Just love, just be love!” And of course, I told him he had to forgive her. The conversation was brought back to Christian Science and I told him that he shouldn’t hold a grudge, but just brush that chip off his shoulder like a piece of lint. God did not do this to him; his wife did, and she is human. People do things and break our hearts from time to time. I invited him to purchase Science and Health. He was told it would really light up the Bible for him, but he just wasn’t ready. At least he came in and learned a little of Christian Science, and I pray he learns how loved he really is. 

A man was reading our windows when I came back from the coffee shop.  I said, “Would you like to come in?”  He said, “Oh this is you?  Yes please, I would love to.  What is Christian Science?”  He was new to Christianity, three months new.  But he really had a burning desire to help people, and to understand the Bible. I said, “Well, Mary Baker Eddy figured out how Jesus healed and wrote a book about it.”  Then I told him of her early experiences and her discovery of healing in the Scriptures after some big injuries were healed by reading the Bible, and how she subsequently became a great healer and teacher. He was told how she came to write her book.  I spent some time with the book, showing him the Fruitage chapter, the Glossary and Genesis and the Apocalypse.  He readily purchased the new mid-sized edition when I told him it would light up the Bible for him.  Then he shared that he had been asking God to explain the Scripture.  I said, “Well, He brought you here.”

A man came in at the end of the shift and wanted to know about Christian Science.  He was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her writings, and our fantastic periodicals.  I walked him through a little of Science and Health and he readily purchased a hardback foil edition.   He then was interested in the study room and the attendant pointed out the bound volumes and told him that she frequently would open one of them at any point and it would not fail to inspire her.  He stayed for another hour reading before his flight.

A young man came in and walked right in to the study room and looked carefully at the music, and then at our books and then in the stacks at the bound volumes.  He then came into the sales room and told me how unusual it was to see such a wonderful place in an airport. I told him we had been here 62 years.  He was surprised.  Then he was introduced to Christian Science and Mrs. Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures.  I showed him several editions of Science and Health, and just then his mom and four other children came in and he asked her to purchase this little book.  He told me his dad was one of the smartest people in the world and would love it.  I said he would, because I am one of those people that is always learning from it and relating it to everything.   He purchased the mid-sized blue paperback, and it will bless that family.

A woman came in and needed to use our computer to try to get a permission to travel because her visa wasn’t working as prepared.  Now two days prior we had 2 visitors with that problem, and the computer got her so far, but she ended up doing the application on her smartphone, and they had missed their flight because of the problem. The visa did not match the passport number or something and they had to reapply with an expectation of a 72-hour turnaround.  They had come all the way from Bodega Bay, and they finally left thoroughly disappointed but thanked us for the hospitality.  Today it took me awhile to realize that this was a similar problem.  She came out of the study room and was telling me the challenges, and that it can take up to 72 hours.     I suggested prayer.  She said she had prayed.  I said, “Let me pray!” I silently asked God that if this could be done by the time her flight left at 3pm, it would be just wonderful.  And I thanked Him in advance.  Well, an hour later she told me it had been approved (one hour!) and she printed her papers and was getting ready to leave for the gates.  I said, “You should buy this book.  I want you to see how prayer did that!”  She said, “I will!”  And she purchased a marble paperback edition of Science and Health. I gave this testimony in church and the comment in another remark was, “What do we see?”  It is from Matthew 11:7, “What went ye out . . . to see?  A reed shaken with the wind?”  In the first instance, I had been hypnotized into accepting the problem. Jesus said, “Watch.” Mary Baker Eddy says, “Stand porter at the door of thought.”

A gentleman came in and was very interested in our literature.  He was introduced to Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy and her writings.  He was Christian and was visiting his sister who is a pastor and decided to purchase Science and Health for her.  He thought it would help her and/or be of great interest to her.    

A woman came into the Reading Room and asked if we sold books.  She was travelling and needed something to read on the plane. I told her we sold Bibles and Christian Science literature.  I showed her Science and Health and told her that Mary Baker Eddy, its author, had figured out how Jesus healed and had written this book about it.  The woman said, “I’ll take one!”  I silently blessed that book and knew that it would bless her. 

When I stopped by the Reading Room, the attendant serving had 3 visitors, and at least one more came in for a few minutes and then read, and then left.  There was a woman at the desk and she loved what the attendant had been telling her.  The attendant was working on a stack of literature to be put out, and pointing to a Sentinel I mentioned, “Oh that is a good one!” She took it.  She was then told that the woman who started all this figured out how Jesus healed and wrote this book about it.  She was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her early life and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures and how she came to write the book.  She then named her discovery Christian Science.  I walked her through a little of the textbook, and she was thrilled.  When I told her I had that book for only $13, she said, “Oh I will take one, but I want to contribute more.”  She ended up giving us a $40 donation as well as the $13 for the book on her credit card. She was given a Christian Science Journal and shown the directory in the back of Churches and Reading Rooms.  What a wonderful visitor.

A young man came into the Reading Room seeking a cell phone charge for his iPhone and asking what was this place.  I introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures, and how she came to write Science and Health.  He asked if it could heal mental illness, schizophrenia, and I explained how I had been healed of that illness.  He was told a little of how not to mentally malpractice on oneself, and how important it is to be grateful and positive about one’s life and circumstances, and how Christian Science helps with not just sickness, but finances, relationships, addiction and other destructive patterns, and provides answers to all kinds of questions. When I asked for the sale, he took out his credit card and readily purchased a marble paperback Science and Health.

A man came in and asked about Bibles. He wanted to let his friend know that he had found a store that sold Bibles.  We were talking and he gave me $20 for a Christian Science Monitor and, as I was trying to make change, I remarked that all my advanced degrees were not helping me make change.  That led to a discussion of the economy, markets, the dollar, etc. and he asked me many questions, for which I had answers and I had questions for him.  It was a lively discussion and finally he allowed me to bring it back to Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures.  He purchased a Science and Health and then went into the city for a few hours since his plane was delayed.  He is from the area in Virginia where I once lived, and worked for a company for whom I did contract work.

A young man who works for one of the airlines came in and sat down, as I was working on the board reports and told him what I was trying to get done, and he said, it’s OK, I just like being here.  Then I said, “Do you wanna buy a book?”  He said, “Yes, I have the money to do that today.”  He gave me $20 and then said, “Keep the change.” (This has never happened!) He stayed for quite awhile, and immediately the phone rang and, as I was talking, Ruby, the manager of the candy stand next door, came by and needed me to run over and watch her store while she ran to the ladies room.  So the visitor came with me, and I stood in back of the candy stand and he stood in front for about 3 minutes until she returned.  While at the candy stand, he asked me how there could be no darkness or evil in God.  We went over the definition from the textbook he had purchased and was carrying, and I showed him how Mrs. Eddy had pulled that complete definition from her reading of the Bible.   There is no place in that definition for evil or darkness when God is All.  When Ruby returned he returned to the Reading Room and used our computer rejoicing in our password, “Godislove.”

A young woman came into the Reading Room while on the phone and asked if she could sit in the study room.  I invited her right in.  She was there almost an hour, then left while still on the phone.  A while later I ran into her again in the Terminal and she was looking lost.  I stopped and said, “What is the problem?  Please let me help you?”  She said that her flight had been cancelled, and she had been on the phone and had made a reservation for a later flight and then found an earlier one on Delta.  She was debating what to do.  She just had to get to Mobile, AL for a 3pm meeting.  I looked at the line at the Delta counter, which was long, and I told her to go and get right in that line.  I quoted from Science and Health, “All that God imparts moves in accord with Him reflecting goodness and power.”  I told her this is Christian Science metaphysical language for “Don’t worry about the line.  God will move it.” She came back not 15 minutes later smiling and waving a boarding pass at me. I was thrilled for her.  They had found an even earlier flight with a seat on another airline.  I invited her in to hear about Christian Science but she had to get to her gate.  I am so glad I finally talked to her and I am grateful to have been able to help.

A wonderful woman came in and was more than 5 hours early for her flight and said, “I thought I would see if I can find a book to read for the flight home.”  I told her I had the best book ever.   I showed her the Christian Science textbook, and told her that if she loved the Bible, it would light it up for her.  I told her about the chapter on Fruitage.  She said, “You know, Mary Baker Eddy was the mother of all books written on spiritual healing,” and she told me she knew of Norman Vincent Peale (The Power of Positive Thinking) and was raised on that philosophy.  I showed her the marble edition of Science and Health on the desk, and the sterling paperback which she readily purchased.  We also talked about alcoholism in her family.  As it turns out, we have shared many similar experiences.  She told me she was very glad she had come in.

A woman came in who had some time until her next flight, and asked if she could just go and read.  She came out a while later with our marked books and asked how this worked.  Also, she knew the second chapter of Luke by heart.  I explained to her about our Pastor and showed her how the citations from Science and Health correlate with the Bible citations for the lesson.  I explained a little of the spiritual import of the Bible which is highlighted in Science and Health. She read some more and then came out and I asked if I could explain a little of Christian Science.  But she would not let me really get started because she wanted to tell me about all the drama and problems with her relationship with her son.  She said, “How can you heal the relationship if you don’t understand it?” The answer is that the relationship is human while the healing is divine.  At the end of the description, I presented a little of Mary Baker Eddy and her book, Science and Health. As it turned out she wasn’t so receptive.  I finally decided that we were talking past each other, so I told her she just had to love her son, and replace all her critical and self-pitiful thoughts concerning him, with “He is God’s child, now and always!”  And above all “just love him.”  “What ever comes to you to think, it has to be with love or don’t allow yourself to think those thoughts.  Love will do the work.”  I learned this from a practitioner when I was new in Christian Science.

A man came in and purchased a Christian Science Monitor after taking several free ones.  He asked how to donate to us.  He had been out here for Association and was on his way to Boston to visit The Mother Church.  He lives in the UK and wants to be a regular donor.  I gave him a Fruitage Report, which has the donation information.

A wonderful lady came in and walked right into the sales area where the Journal, Sentinel and themed booklets are displayed, and pulled a copy of God’s Law of Adjustment by Adam Dickey.  She asked if this was a good little book.  I said, “Yes, and that was fairly famous because it was only one article and fairly detailed on the metaphysics of healing.”  She said she was led to pick it up and we talked a little of how we hear the divine guidance.  She gave me the money, and as I was making change, I began to tell her how Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed and written this wonderful book.  She was told a little of Mrs. Eddy’s history with emphasis on how God had told her in no uncertain terms to write the book. A doctor who witnessed one of Mrs. Eddy’s healings told her to write a book, and the next time she opened her Bible her eyes went right to Isaiah 30:8 which says,  “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.” She readily purchased a marble copy of Science and Health.  A month or so later she called and asked if I remembered her.  I did, and she asked if I could please help her with the belief of concussion?  I happily said, “Yes!” and told her of my experiences with that claim.  Briefly, for over a month I had a headache where the top of my head hurt.  I finally asked God what my treatment was missing, and I immediately heard an advertisement for the movie, Concussion. I handled that belief and was healed in two days. Moreover, I told her that when I have been healed or protected myself against any claim once or twice, that treatment becomes part of me and is the easiest of all healing when spiritual understanding morphs into absolute faith. I am happy she thought to call us.

The loveliest woman came in and was looking through her purse for a pamphlet called the Power of God.  I said, “Oh, we know about that; we heal with it every day.”  She said, “Really?”  And I pointed to Science and Health and said, “Yes.  Mary Baker Eddy, who figured out how Jesus healed.”  Then I picked up a book for sale on the desk and handed it to her, and read the first sentence on page 1 from Science & Health, namely, “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, — a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love. Regardless of what another may say or think on this subject, I speak from experience.”  (S&H 1:1–5).  She had recently lost her youngest son to cancer, and was so sad; but she told me that she had heard, “Weep no more!” and on another occasion, “Don’t be sad for him.” She also said that she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to be doing but was here for a reason, because she had emerged unscathed from what could have been a fatal car accident.  I told her that something had brought her here, and that this book would really help her gain some spiritual understanding and to be a better healer.  She purchased a marble copy of Science and Health. 

A delightful Chinese man who lived in Cupertino came into the Reading Room to kill some time to make sure his son’s flight took off. The previous day he left and had to return since his son’s flight was cancelled.  While waiting he came here and walked into the study room and began reading the Christian Science Sentinel on the table.   He came out and asked about it and he was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures and her book.  He told me his wife was very Christian but very weak, and was very conscious of what she ate and how she felt.  I happened to remember several citations from last week’s lesson, which I had marked and put aside to study daily, and I began to read to him. One was: (S&H 219:15–20) “We shall not call the body weak, if we would have it strong; for the belief in feebleness must obtain in the human mind before it can be made manifest on the body, and the destruction of the belief will be the removal of its effects.”  Another one was: (S&H 208:29-31) “You embrace your body in your thought, and you should delineate upon it thoughts of health, not of sickness.” He readily purchased the Sterling hard back edition of Science and Health.  

A man came in and wanted to know what we were doing here in an airport.  I told him, “What we always do, sell books and Christian Science literature, answer questions, clear up misconceptions about Christian Science and explain spiritual things.”  He had really just come in to charge his phone, but since someone was using the charging station in the study room, I just unplugged my phone and plugged his in.  Then he sat down. He said, “I am so surprised to see anything Christian in an airport.”  I told him a little of Christian Science and he attentively listened, and ended up purchasing a marble edition of Science and Health.

A young man came into the Reading Room and kept coming once a day to catch Ed, and would always ask me to tell Ed he was up at USO and to please stop up there if he had time.  One day he mentioned that he had this blood immune deficiency and what would happen if he could not get platelets since the plasma supply was low.  I said, “Hold on, you are coming in here to see me!  Sit down!”  I explained a little of Christian Science, that Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed; and I went straight to the spiritual creation in the 1^st chapter of Genesis, and then explained that the 2^nd chapter was about the flesh.  Jesus said, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.” (John 6:63)  He was shown  the Fruitage chapter which contains of letters of healings of every disease known to man which occurred just by reading the book.  I worked the treatment out loud and ended up giving him a Sunday School copy of Science and Health which someone had donated.  I told him to begin reading and it would open his understanding and heal a whole lot of things.  We can think rightly about a problem and it solves or goes away. He comes to catch Ed but it seems a little less often.  Ed always helps him with prayer.

A woman came in exclaiming, “This place saved me!”  She came into the Reading Room a year ago, homeless.  The attendant told her that she was a child of God upright, and pure, and that God loved her and would guide her.  She went to the city to find assistance, and she is now leading a productive life.   She was at the airport waiting for her mother and sister from Atlanta to move in with her.  She expressed a great deal of love and gratitude.

A gentleman came in and looked around and was searching the periodicals on the give-away shelf in the front, searching the Christian Science Journals.  He found a couple, and came over and said, let me give you a donation, and gave the attendant $20.  He expressed an interest in learning more, and the attendant suggested he read Science and Health, and he gave him a Marble paperback, informing the man that he had really already paid for it.   The man was delighted and could not believe it was so reasonably priced.

The same evening, another man came in and wanted to know what we were about.  He had never heard of Christian Science.  They chatted a while and the attendant told the guest that we were all over the world and every church had a Reading Room similar to this.  He was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her wonderful book.  The man purchased a marble copy of Science and Health with a credit card. Interestingly, this attendant has been working in our Reading Room for many (forty) years and has never sold anything until the last two shifts.  He sold a Concordance, an Interpreters Bible and a biography, and this evening he sold two copies of Science and Health to two different people.  You never know who is ready. And when you serve here you are pleasantly surprised at the receptivity of the visitors.

This wonderful woman came in and asked if I knew of a McDonald’s or someplace she could get cheap good eats.  I thought, “In the airport?”  I gave her a bag of pretzels we had and a cup of tea.  She said she just gotten out of prison and was here until 4:45 pm.  She had never flown before until she flew here.  She had found Christianity in prison, and came here because she saw “Christian” on our door.  She had been wandering around the airport for three hours and had purchased a drink for $3 which was a cold coffee drink from Duncan Donuts.  She had very little money left. She had to get from the Great Falls, Montana Airport to this halfway house where she was assigned to go.  She had a Bible with her things, so I introduced her to Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing and gave her an old trade edition of Science and Health which someone had donated.  She read for a while, especially the Fruitage chapter.  We talked for several hours. This woman had a very, very difficult childhood.  But she had forgiven all of the people that abused her.   She was given a Christian Science Journal, and shown the churches in Montana. Churches are located in both Great Falls and Butte where she will be living.   She said that Christian Science churches were on the list of churches suggested for her to attend, and she will be going to First Church, Great Falls on Sunday.   I gave her a great big hug when she left.  This woman did not even know she was loved until she found Christianity.  I am smiling teary-eyed with gratitude as I write this.

Two young girls came in who had just come to the United States to attend school, and asked me to pray specifically for them to heal stress. I introduced them to Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy. One of them told me she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I told her about my healing of that very illness. This girl asked me to pray for them both, which I agreed to do, and I suggested the Lord’s Prayer. We turned to it in the textbook on page 16-17, and I prayed for them specifically to address the temptation to believe in or be tempted by the bipolar or the stress argument, and showed them that “Thy will be done!” means that they are perfect and it is not God’s will that they be stressed or troubled by bipolar. They were told “When the tempter comes with the mania or the feeling of being overwhelmed, to just say ‘No!’ to it. And see what happens. You may have to tell it more than once at first, but it will eventually stop troubling you.” Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously. . . . Exclude from mortal mind the offending errors; then the body cannot suffer from them.” (SH 392:24-27, 31-32.) And they were told to feel free to ask God to order their steps and prioritize their day.

A wonderful visitor came in and wanted to know what we were, and what was Christian Science.  He was told a little of Christian Science and introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and told how she came to write her wonderful book, Science and Health. Then he was shown what I call the punch line of my introduction to Science and Health which is on page 1, sentence 1, “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, — a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love,” and he was told that Christian Science heals everything.  Although the book focuses on health, one will see by reading it that it heals everything: sin, sickness, death, fear, finances, relationships, romance, and even one’s sex life.  Everything that mortals are subject to on earth has a divine law or rule of healing to govern it and correct the problem, because we are the children of God made in His image and likeness.   He knew his Bible and continued to ask questions which I answered as best I could.  He told me that he was suffering from ennui: the blahs!  He told me he felt like he wasn’t giving life his all and wasn’t living up to the expectations of his employer.  I explained about mental malpractice.   And how we say, “Oh I don’t feel well,” and the brain says, “Well, OK, whatever you say!” and we bring it about.  I suggested we ask God to send the angels to really prosper this young man in his activities while here in San Francisco representing his company at the convention; and that he has a splendid and prosperous experience in his assignments; and that he has fun with it which comes from enthusiasm. I blessed that prayer and said, “It is done!”  I could feel the change in his being.  He was told to be sure and keep his thought wide open to divine direction, and listen to the still, small voice.  He purchased a marble copy of Science and Health, which will light up the Bible for him.   His name was Angel!

Two young women came in very interested in what we were.  They were introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures and to Christian Science.   They were so interested, their mouths were opened in amazement.  I told them I had the book for $13, and the mom came in and gave me her debit card and selected the pamphlet “Safety” for herself.  The girls were flying home and could not wait to start reading.  The mom was sad to see them go. She is here in San Francisco taking care of her mother and missing her kids.  I really wish I could have had time to talk to her by herself. I sent them off with our favorite travel blessing from Psalm 100, “May the Lord preserve thy going out and thy coming in.” (Ps. 121:8)

A young Portuguese-speaking woman came in just as far as the basket, looking through the free literature.  I approached her to ask if I could help.  We talked for a few minutes and she said that what got her attention was the name. Christian Science. “She wondered how Christianity could be connected with science.”

Her eyes were wide open and her face animated with the new concept. I explained a little about our Leader’s revelation that there must be a science to Christ’s teachings and healings. The lady understood that and mentioned that she had heard of the “science of creation” thought.   I was able to share more about God as the intelligence of the universe.  She nodded her head, still very eager to learn. I noticed an accent and asked her what was her native language. She said Portuguese.  We found a Portuguese Herald, O Arauto Da Ciência Cristã, and she took it.  She also took a Sentinel and a Monitor, and she was encouraged to go to ChristianScience.com.

A Catholic priest came in to pick up a free Christian Science Monitor in our basket.  We chatted for several minutes about the value of expressing God’s love.  I corrected his misconception of Christian Science being involved in Scientology.  He eagerly picked up the brochure, “What is Christian Science?” I am sure this was the only Christian Science Reading Room he had ever visited.

A young man came in this morning and asked what we were, and “What is Christian Science?”  I began to explain a little of Christian Science and introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and our wonderful textbook.   He took a brochure, but I suggested he take some of the free literature, the Sentinels, because they tell of wonderful healing experiences people have for all sorts of challenges.  He asked me what I would suggest as a book since he was headed back to New York.  I suggested Science and Health.  I pulled the midsized copy from the shelf, which he readily purchased.   I was so happy for him, and we blessed his trip with Psalm 21:8.

A woman came in from Atlanta who said she was seeking some direction in her life.  She was recently divorced and seeking a job, and she was seeking comfort.  We discussed the importance of connecting with God with a humble receptive heart.  As we went through the lesson sermon and various parts of Science and Health, she asked several questions on Christian Science, and purchased a Science and Health, a full-text Bible lesson, and selected a number of periodicals from our basket, including a recent Christian Science Journal, to find a Christian Science church in Atlanta.  Her receptive thought brought her the Christ and she walked out buoyant in spirit with God. 

A young man came in and looked around and asked, “What is this place?  What is Christian Science?”  I invited him to sit down and  introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and our wonderful textbook explaining the origins of Christian Science and her discovery of spiritual healing in the Scriptures.  He said that he was Christian, but he knew a lot of Jewish history.  I was led to show him pages 360 and 361 in Science and Health where Mrs. Eddy reconciles the spiritual agreement of Judaism and Christianity, and how Christian Science settles the question of the nature of God and Christ.  I suggested he purchase the book because it would really open up the Scriptures to him.  He said, “Well, I’ll come back and buy it Friday, which is payday.”  I said, “We’ll be here.  We never miss Fridays.” He left and came back about ten minutes later and he said, “You know, I have enough money to waste on other stuff this week, so I decided to buy something really good.  I’ll take the book!”  I was thrilled.  I handed him a brand new wrapped marble copy of Science and Health.

A man from Mainland China came in interested, and asked lots of questions.  His first language was Mandarin. He looked at our Chinese Bible and said he had one.  He told me his journey from three adversities: divorce, business failure and trying to find the meaning of life and failing.  So he turned to the Bible.  He was baptized a Christian but had not turned to it until now.    Then he came to the US, Hawaii, and was inspired by statues of Jesus in the Church of Latter Day Saints. He was waiting for his mother and stayed in the Reading Room, excited to learn about healing spiritually without drugs and medicine.   He was introduced to the Christian Science textbook and the Christian Science Journal.  We discovered only one branch church in Hong Kong, and none in mainland China.  He was very polite, well-spoken and sincere.  It was a delight to see his fresh enthusiasm for Christ and the Bible.

A young man came in and asked if I understood prayer and asked if I could I pray for him.  I asked what was the problem?  He said, I have this dry skin problem on my hands and arms.  He showed it to me, and I asked him, “Is anyone or anything irritating you?”   Sometimes the body externalizes our thought in various symptoms.  He said yes, and I suggested he forgive someone.  I said,  “Take that person’s face into your focus and say, ‘I forgive you. I release you. I hold no unforgiveness back.  You are free.  I am free!’  On the last one you will feel the weight of that resentment or anger just lift off of you.” We talked some more and I agreed to pray for him.  I suggested he buy the Christian Science textbook and he said that he did, about six months ago, from me. Also, he was on his way to a meeting in San Francisco about a will that his late dad had left and his brother’s expressed need to control all the money and the estate. I declared that man is honest and generous and that we will try to see his brother in the light of God’s vision of him and the family, and that he could not be cheated.  No one can deprive him of anything that is rightfully his.  He had to run to his meeting but I am sure we helped him.  Several days later he returned.  I asked, “How are your hands?”  He proudly presented them as healthy, soft, smooth, with unbroken skin, and whole.  I asked about the meeting with his brother regarding the estate.  He told me the meeting went very, very well.  He was so pleased.  Now he wants to learn how he can learn to heal.  I said, “Well, Science and Health is an ensouled text, like the Bible, in that you can pick it up and open it and you are led to read what you need.  If you read and do not understand, ask God what it means.  When you are in that book and the Bible, you can freely ask God and some idea will come to you.  God is in those books because they are His Word, His Law.”  The man photographed the Christian Science Journal’s list of churches in Utah near his residence, so that he could attend.

As it turns out he is in and out of SFO and will continue to stop by.  He has been here since with more questions, most recently about really connecting to God.  I shared some of the Philip Hockley lecture that I attended that weekend, particularly Philip’s experience with the window of his consciousness opening to the Infinite for the very first time and drinking in the inspiration of a Christian Science lecture he was attending for the first time.  He gave us a donation for all our help.

So much of the activity of helping people in this Reading Room and introducing them to spiritual solutions to human problems involves teaching them how not to malpractice on themselves.

An airport security guard came into the Reading Room and stayed for 30 minutes. He asked how he could pray to regain his faith in God.  I talked to him about God’s pure, loving presence, citing Genesis 1 and showing him the chapter on Prayer in Science and Health.  He said he would come back and check out Science and Health another day.

From outside I heard the words, “Are you a Christian religion?  Do you believe in the Bible?”  A Spanish family walked into the Reading Room, two adults and three young children, and one of the women introduced herself and her mother.  The young mother exclaimed, “I was raised Catholic but feel there is something more for me, but my mother is a strong Catholic and we’ve been fighting over this.  And sometimes I say mean things to my mother.” She was told that our religion is based on the teachings and healings of Christ Jesus, and the power of prayer in daily communication [communion] with God.  I went through a full-text Bible Lesson and read Genesis 1 in helping her to understand how our religion is based on a spiritual concept of man, and the importance of the daily focus on God in helping to break bad verbal outbursts the woman was making to her mother.  We discussed the importance of God’s love in our hearts, and in relationships.  The young woman then turned to her mother and apologized for the past behavior with a tearful promise to improve.  She picked up a copy of the previous month’s full text Bible Lessons (July 2018) and the brochure, “What is Christian Science?”  I was very happy to see that our Reading Room was here to guide them to healing.

A man was rushing past, and saw us and backtracked and came in to tell us how happy he was to see us in an airport.  He said he sees these Reading Rooms everywhere he travels but never in an airport.  He was so happy we were here and doing what we do for people and for the world.  Wow!

A wonderful young woman came into the Reading Room on her way from Omaha, NE, and she had quite a delay till her flight.  She sat down and was quietly studying Science and Health.  When she came out, she was told about Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the spiritual import of the Scriptures, and how Mrs. Eddy came to write Science and Health.  The woman said she had been looking for a more spiritual religion.  Also she disclosed that she had lost her wallet somewhere between her home in Omaha and here.  She had missed her connection and had to wait until tomorrow to take the next flight. Also she had seven children aged 2 (twins) to 15.  She was mildly addicted to anti-depressants and was afraid of the withdrawal from quitting them.  We had a nice chat and I told her that if she could read Science and Health, the need for drugs would fall away.  As God’s image and likeness, she really could not be addicted because God could not be addicted and she could only reflect Him. She had no way to pay for the book so I ended up giving her an old one from my car. She was shown the last 100 pages of Science and Health telling of healings of every disease known to man by just reading the book.  I assured her that addiction was in there.   I also told her that the greatest gift she could give her children was the Christian Science Sunday School because the children are taught of God and Christ, the Holy Ghost and man as God’s child.  That understanding is such a comfort to them later in their lives, and they may heal with love. She was given a Christian Science Journal and we found two churches in Omaha where she could go and take her children to Sunday School.  As she left to take her airport/hotel shuttle I knew she was very grateful.

A young woman came in and asked if I could pray for her.  I said, “Of course.  Anything specific?”  She said, “No, just in general.”  I suggested the Lord’s Prayer which we prayed with the spiritual interpretation from the textbook.   It was a wonderful prayer for both of us. Then I told her, we can only get divine help when we ask, so I am reminded, “Don’t forget to ask!”  I shared that with her, and she mentioned she had been praying for a husband for 20 years.  Then I was led to tell her that the man she is seeking is seeking her.  We asked God to help these two soul mates find each other, and I asked her to be completely open to that outcome and never to doubt that her desires would be met.  Doubt can result in  discouragement which undoes that which we seek to accomplish.  She was a flight attendant and she let us know that she had purchased a copy of Science and Health from us the last time she came through.   God hath blessed her!   The next time she came in, she shared that she was kindling an old flame whom she was now seeing.

A man read the window this morning, and then came into the Reading Room and allowed me to tell him a little of Christian Science and to introduce him to Mrs. Eddy and her writings.  When I showed him page 1, and showed him how Mrs. Eddy and Jesus healed, it made sense to him.  I asked for the sale of Science and Health, and he said “Yes!” He purchased the Marble paperback because it has darker print. He said, “You know in Atlanta, there is a Bible which leaks oil. Oil comes from it.”  I said, “Interesting,” and I showed him the definition of “Oil” in the Glossary and told him about the healing of the oil spill with that definition.  I said the fact that any Bible produces “consecration, charity, gentleness, prayer, heavenly inspiration” really is not surprising when you think about it.  I am so grateful to have been here when he came in.

An elderly gentleman came in and needed change, four fives for a twenty.  Now we don’t keep much cash in the drawer but I looked and we had four fives, so I gave them to him, and he said, “Why don’t I give you one back?”  I was delighted, and he then told me that he had once been a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago.  Then he said with a twinkle in his eye, “But I have strayed!”  I laughed and told him, “Don’t worry, God hasn’t strayed from you!”  He said, “Oh, I know!” and winked.

A lovely lady Christian Scientist came in today and was wanting something inspirational to read for her trip.  I wasn’t finding her anything in the Sentinel or Journal racks, but then she asked for poems or hymns.  I got the words-only hymnals out, and showed her the old hymnal and new hymnal words-only books.  She loved the new one.  She was surprised we had a new hymnal supplement, which she purchased in the words-only version.

 A man and a woman were waiting for me when I came back from a 3-minute errand.  They were invited in and were interested in learning about Christian Science.  They were introduced to Mary Baker Eddy, her discovery of Christian healing and her wonderful book.  They were associates working in the United States and were off to Taiwan and Singapore.  I showed them a Journal and gave them samples of our literature: the Christian Science Bible Lesson; the Monitor; the Sentinel; and the Journal, where we found the Christian Science Society in Singapore.  The young man purchased a Science and Health for each of them.

 A young woman came in who seemed upset. She was living in Switzerland but was on her way to St. Louis to be with her mom.  She studied the Bible Lesson for this week, and came out and asked if she could purchase a Bible, a Science and Health and a citation quarterly.  She was tearful, and I asked what was wrong. As it turned out, her dad had just passed. She said she had been raised in Christian Science but had not studied in awhile.  I gave her the pamphlet, From Earth to Heaven.  She also bought an old marker and holder from us and was going to mark books and begin to study the lesson. When she left I gave her a hug and our favorite travel blessing from Psalm 121: “May the Lord preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forward. . . . ”  I told her we specialize in travel here at the Reading Room in the airport.  She left smiling.

We had an active Sunday morning.  A man came in and he asked about Christian Science.  I introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and how she came to discover Christian healing in the Scriptures, testing it and proving it with the scientific method.  She had studied the Bible all her life, and studied all of her husband’s medical books, and conducted scientific experiments in various healing methods, none of which were as reliable as her Christian healing method which she named Christian Science.  Science means truth and Christian means love, both of which are synonyms for God in Christian Science.  He shared that he did different kinds of healing, some of which was familiar to me and we talked a little of various healing methods, all of which require a surrender or yielding to the Infinite or Divine Law (Principle) on the part of the patient, and a willingness to part with the condition.  I showed him the first page of our textbook. He wanted to buy it for a friend but was reluctant to push it on him.  His friend was a strong Christian and shied away from other writings.  And, it turned out that his friend was flying in and they were meeting to go to something together in San Francisco.   He left his luggage in the Reading Room for five minutes while he went to meet his friend who was at the Delta baggage carousel, just below us.  That enabled him to come back with the friend to pick up the luggage, and we could show him Science and Health.   His friend was much more comfortable speaking Spanish and read some of the Spanish translation of Science and Health.  They readily purchased the Spanish translation.

A man came in and asked about Bibles. He wanted to let his friend know that he had found a store that sold Bibles.  We were talking and he gave me $20 for a Christian Science Monitor and, as I was trying to make change, I remarked that all my advanced degrees were not helping me make change.  That led to a discussion of the economy, markets, the dollar, etc. and he asked me many questions, for which I had answers and I had questions for him.  It was a lively discussion and finally he allowed me to bring it back to Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures.  He purchased a Science and Health and then went into the city for a few hours since his plane was delayed.  He is from the area in  Virginia where I once lived, and he works for a company for whom I used to do business valuation work.

A woman, T, came in for the third time on my shift, and is finally ticketed to go home today.  She is pregnant and hungry and homeless while here in the Bay Area, so we have been giving her an occasional cup of coffee or tea and a snack. I introduced her to Mary Baker Eddy and her wonderful discovery of healing in the Scriptures.  She wanted the book so much. She had been introduced to Science and Health, and another attendant had shown her the healings of fibroid tumor in the Fruitage chapter.  So she was given a marble copy of Science and Health, for which I paid.  I told her that the book would heal a whole lot of things, and she was shown scientific obstetrics on page 463. It will help her with her money and her pregnancy. May God bless her and help her.

A woman came in yesterday and had seen our Reading Room when she came through to catch her Uber ride.  She was determined to come back early enough on her return to stop in.  When I met her she was returning home to Virginia.  I introduced her to Mary Baker Eddy and her writings, and she was so surprised and grateful to hear about it.  She purchased two copies of Science and Health for herself and a friend, and was sure that God had led her here.  She asked me what she had to do to get to heaven.  I said, “The Scripture says, try to keep the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and love God supremely. That should keep you well on track.”  She was so glad.  She was prayerful. I told her how I got my new car through prayer, and it was right there when I needed it as was the money to buy it. It was amazing.  She decided to do the same thing because her car was about ready to be traded.  Christian Science applies to everything.  What a wonderful customer.

A 7-year-old boy came in with his mother, and he began looking at the children’s table and the puzzle and the coloring book. Then he looked around at some of the other things in the children’s display.  I began to introduce Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery to the mother, and the child just soaked it up.  When I offered the book for sale, the little boy asked his mother to buy it for him.  He would read it and learn.  The mother bought it for him and told me how much he loved books.   I told them that if he read it he would heal with it.  Children always do.

A man came in and sat down and asked about Christian Science.  I asked if he had 10 minutes, I could give him a pretty good overview.  He said, “Yes, absolutely!”  So he was introduced to Christian Science and its amazing discoverer and founder, and to Science and Health. I also showed him the chapter of Fruitage and answered all his questions, even about how I came into Christian Science.  I was born into it but never made it my own until I had children.  He purchased a Hendrickson Bible with the Apocrypha, which I love, and a Science and Health.  He had some big fear issues and I told him he was safe; and since he lived in Fremont, and I was leaving at 6pm, I drove him home.  He was afraid to accept a ride from the wrong person. I told him to start reading Science and Health right away and to start each day with a couple of paragraphs.  Well, he called back today, and asked about the nearby churches, and I sent an email of nearby church addresses.

A young woman came in this morning and asked for paper and a pen, and then she appeared to be tearing up the paper. I asked her what on earth was wrong as I reached for the  box of tissues, handing them to her.   She said that she had just come back from the east and that everything was fine, but now that she is here, her boyfriend is waffling. Apparently, his family forbids him to marry her and has threatened to disown him if he marries her.  They are Hindi and it appears he has an arranged marriage awaiting him.  I told her that God and the angels would help her.  But she had to “Let it go so that they could work on it!”   She was told that human will can be so stubborn and strong that even God does not interfere with it in most cases.  Moreover, when one tries to hold on really tight to something, the grip is fear-based and the thing will slip away.  Fear of loss precipitates loss.  But if she released the whole thing to God, He would find a way to bless the relationship and maybe bring them back together.  She said, “What if he doesn’t come back?”  I said, “Then there is a better man for you who is a better match and will make a happier marriage.”  She had to leave, so I walked her out and told her, “Release it, let it go! And be ready to be blessed.”  She took some extra Kleenex with her.

A woman came in who had some time until her next flight, and asked if she could just go and read.  She came out awhile later with our marked books and asked how this worked.  Also, she knew Luke 2 by heart.  I explained to her about our pastor and showed her how the citations from Science and Health correlate with the Bible citations for the lesson.  I explained a little of the spiritual import of the Bible which is highlighted in Science and Health. She read some more and then came out and I asked if I could explain a little of Christian Science.  But she would not let me really get started because she wanted to tell me about all the drama and problems with her relationship with her son.  She said, “How can you heal the relationship if you don’t understand it?” The answer is that the relationship is human while the healing is divine.  At the end of the description, I presented a little of Mary Baker Eddy and her book, Science and Health. As it turned out she wasn’t so receptive.  I finally decided that we were talking past each other, so I told her she just had to love her son, and replace all her critical and self-pitiful thoughts concerning him, with “He is God’s child, now and always!”  And above all just “love him.”  “What ever comes to you to think, it has to be with love or don’t allow yourself to think those thoughts.  Love will do the work.”

When I arrived New Year’s morning, there was a message on the voice mail from a young woman who wanted to know if we sold Bibles. I called her back and told her we had many Bibles.  She was in line at China Air check-in in the International Terminal, and was really impressed that someone called her back.  She was several hours ahead of departure, so I told her how to come to our store after check-in.  She came in with a friend and looked at all our Bibles, and chose the $10 paperback.  I suggested Science and Health, which would really expand her understanding of the Bible, but she was content with her purchase.   We then blessed her trip with, “May the Lord preserve thy going out and thy coming in . . . “ Psalms 121:8.

A woman came in and asked me where she could buy cigarettes.  I suggested a few places in Terminal 1, but I do not really know.  We got to talking about addiction and I mentioned that Christian Science heals everything.  I tried to find the Sentinel with the cover and an article on Addiction in a recent issue of the Christian Science Sentinel, but it was nowhere.  So I went to JSH-online and pulled up a couple of articles and printed them.   Then she said, “Oh I cannot take these, I am Buddhist.”  I said, “So,  Buddha was great but that shouldn’t stop you from getting healed metaphysically.   It is a matter of understanding the Truth of who you are as a spiritual idea of God, rather than a mortal trapped in a false belief of physical addiction.”  She was told when she arrived at the understanding of who she is, the need for tobacco would just leave her! She smiled and left.

A young man came in said that he had walked by here a thousand times and was led to come in today.  He asked and I told him a little of Christian Science and introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and her book.   He asked about re-incarnation.  I showed Matthew 11: 11-15 (Matt 11:2-15 is better) and mentioned that it’s not widely taught in Christian Science or any religion, but that it is clearly in the Bible in the words of Christ Jesus.  He asked me some other questions for which I had answers.  He said that he had beat himself up when he was addicted to alcohol, tobacco and drugs, and that he had gone to AA for ten years, which had really helped him get free.  But at some point he felt that that he needed a more spiritually-minded group of friends, which he then met.  He said that so many of those friends, when speaking of spiritual matters, got this glazed look in their eye, and he wasn’t sure about their level of understanding.  He said he asked for an even higher-minded group of friends with a clearer understanding. Then he said, “And here I am talking to you, and your eyes are clear and you know exactly what you are talking about.”  I laughed and told him my secret: “You ask and I know because you’re asking questions about divine matters, and divine wisdom is at hand here to answer your questions.”  He then said, “I think all religions just have different ideas about God.”  I agreed with him and showed him page 360:27 of Science and Health, which discusses the resolution between Judaism and Christianity on Jesus and God, and page 94:12 on the eastern empires and their mistaken ideas of an anthropomorphic God and mistaken beliefs to which it leads. [“The eastern empires and nations owe their false government to the misconceptions of Deity there prevalent. Tyranny, intolerance, and bloodshed, wherever found, arise from the belief that the infinite is formed after the pattern of mortal personality, passion, and impulse.”] He said he had to catch his flight but before he went through security, he came back and asked if he could give us a gift.  I said of course.  He handed me a $100 bill!  I said, “Thank you and please allow me to give you a gift,” and when he agreed, I handed him a marble paperback Science and Health! 

M came in today and said to me, “I have to tell you a story.”  As it turns out, his son was in a serious car accident and was in intensive care with a head injury and wasn’t expected to live.  He called everyone he knew that had any religion and asked them to pray for his son. And after several days of being comatose, his son regained consciousness and is on the mend.  M wanted to tell me that he had really seen the power of prayer in action.  I mentioned that the son would be 100% and there would be no residual effects of the accident.   He said, “Well we are praying and waiting to see!”  I said, “Just know it!  We specialize in healing!  The healing is your son’s provided you are not afraid. In fact, “Christian scientific practice begins with Christ’s keynote of harmony, “Be not afraid!” Said Job: “The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me.” (SH 410:29).  He was told that worry is negative prayer and all prayers are answered, so if you are afraid saying, “Oh God, let there not be brain damage,” you get that of which you are afraid, ergo, brain damage.  Christian Science says, “He is perfect in God as a child of God made in His image and likeness, and as such, he is free of all damage!” I told M, “Say that, pray that, and be grateful for that.  See it mentally and you will see it in the flesh!”   He is fairly high up in the airport management, and is a good friend of the Reading Room.

A man came in and sat down and asked, “What is Christian Science?”  He was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of healing in the Scriptures and told of how she came to write our textbook.  Interestingly, when I showed him the spiritual account of the creation of man in God’s image, he interrupted me and said, “I heal with that!”  I was surprised and said, “You do? You are going to love this story I am telling you!”  I explained how one day Mrs. Eddy healed a woman of pneumonia in front of an attending physician, and the doctor told her to write a book, as did the Bible the next time she opened it. [Isaiah 30:8 “Now, go write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever:”] She did, and I opened it and turned to the first page and read him the first sentence.  I then showed him the Glossary, a little of Key to the Scriptures, and the Fruitage chapter.  I showed him what we have, and he readily purchased the blue mid-sized.  As he walked out he thanked me and told me I was a good salesman.  I said, “Well, I have a great product!”

A woman came in and wanted to know about how to overcome grief. I showed her the pamphlet on it, and told her about how we think of death in Christian Science, that there is no death.   I explained about the story of the seagull, how he circled above the group he had been part of and flew out of sight, and that death was more like that.  We had a nice chat, and she learned about angels and money and how not to malpractice on her finances, and about worry being a sort of negative prayer to get what you do not want.  She somehow convinced me that since I understood money, I should buy her that pamphlet, which I did.

A woman was reading our windows and was interested in one of the Science and Health translations in the window, and she came in and took down the book and began reading a little of it.  She asked if it was Portuguese and I said yes, and that this was a new translation.  I explained that Mary Baker Eddy, the author, had figured out how Jesus healed and had written this book about it.  She was told that the last 100 pages were letters from people healed of just about every disease known to man just by reading the book! She mentioned that she was learning Portuguese, and I noted that it had both the Portuguese on the right and the English on the left page.  She set it down on the Christian Science Monitor and began reading that too.  She asked about and was shown O Arauto Da Ciência Cristã.  I showed her three of them, and she began to study the covers and was trying to make up her mind.  I said, “Here, take them!”  Many wonderful Reading Rooms send us their unsold literature.  She purchased the Science and Healthtranslation and the Monitor. She was so thrilled, she looked like she was going on an adventure through the pages.  She said, “My flight was delayed and I was meant to come here.”  She also said she had seen a Reading Room a week or so ago and had decided she wanted to go in check it out, and here we were! I told her that when God wants us to know something, He keeps showing us.  She said, “Oh I know, if I can just listen!”  I am reminded, “It’s a big club!”

A Christian Scientist came in and sat down and was so sad.  He looked to be on the verge of tears and I got out the tissue box and told him to tell me what was going on.  “We can work on this!”  And he poured out his heart and told me that he had lost everything including his great love (his second wife) and that he was 50 and unemployed living in his mom’s attic bedroom which was his old room growing up.  He felt terrible.  He said, “I have lost my way.” He was told that God would show him the way.  Just ask.  Always ask.  In most cases, the Infinite will not step in unless we ask.  And He wants us to ask! And don’t forget to say please!  He said that he did not know where to start.  I suggested he start with a job and that he pick something he would like, and that God would open the way.  That would get him out of the attic.  Sometimes we have to start with a prayer for a specific item or activity. He thanked me for being so nice to him.  I told him that we are nice to everyone.

May God bless all who read this post!

Greetings and blessings from the Christian Science Reading Room at the San Francisco International Airport. Enjoy the testimonies of our attendants:

Three young college-aged students came in and looked at our merchandise. They had attended an event in San Francisco, and were flying home to different places. I told them about Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery and how the book really would enlighten their understanding of the Bible. One of them got her credit card out and purchased a midsized Sterling edition of Science and Health.

Late in the evening a young man came in and wanted to know what we were. He was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery, and how eventually Mrs. Eddy’s students wanted to start a church, which they did, and Mrs. Eddy eventually ordained the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as our pastor. He was shown several Scriptural quotations from Science and Health. He was shown our recent Bible lesson and how the passages from the two books correlate, and how Science and Health enlightens our understanding of the Bible. He readily purchased the marble paperback edition of the textbook.

During the 6-10 shift, a call came in from a gentleman to discuss how to prepare spiritually for each day. A card on our desk listed the several prayers that many Christian Scientists pray with daily, e.g., the Daily Prayer, the Rule for Motives and Acts, Alertness to Duty and the Lord’s Prayer. We reflected on each one and finished with much gratitude for such guidance.

A lovely woman from England, who lives in China and teaches English to children, came in after a very long flight from Shanghai. She said she was Christian. She was shown a little of Christian Science and introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her wonderful writings. The woman was exhausted and stayed in our study room chair for several hours. I left when my shift was over, but am told that she purchased a marble copy of Science and Health before she left.

An English woman named Osa came in and our librarian presented her wonderful review of Christian Science and its founder. As the woman needed to rest, she spent hours in the wing chair, resting and being quiet. The librarian discerned her interest in the paperback copy of Science and Health. At around 7 pm or so, a Colombian woman came in speaking no English. Osa had the Microsoft translator app on her phone so she was able to discover the need. The woman had run out of minutes on her phone and needed to contact her pick-up person. So by loaning our phones for a few minutes the lady was on her way. “Gracias! Gracias!” she said. Then Osa began declaring her faith as an apostolic church believer following the Book of Acts. We talked for quite a while sharing spiritual bridges and respecting each other’s views. Before she left she purchased the paperback copy of Science and Health and brought me a muffin. She insisted. It was a very meaningful exchange for which we were both grateful.

A young woman came into the Reading Room with her friend. She was told a little of Christian Science and how Mrs. Eddy had discovered Christian healing in the Scriptures and one day healed the patient of a doctor who was in the room. He told her to please write a book, which the Bible then led her to do in no uncertain terms (Isaiah 30:8). The woman asked if we had one for sale. She was shown the two small copies of Science and Health and she selected the marble edition. She said that her dad had experienced a second heart attack the night before, and she was told the book would heal him. She believed me and was shown the Fruitage chapter and left with a blessing for her trip.

A wonderful woman came into the Reading Room and asked if she could read a bit. She was early for a 3 pm appointment with a doctor in San Francisco because she said her neck was collapsing. I said, “Well you came to the right place. You are in a Christian Science Reading Room. You should buy our book!” She was a commercial artist and had some great stories of experience with clients. She was interested in the airport art and exhibits and I told her where our museums and art exhibits are displayed. When she was getting ready to go, she said, “I am going to buy your book.” And she purchased a paperback marble edition of Science and Health. I know it will bless her.

A young girl came into the Reading Room and asked about Christian Science. She was told how Mrs. Eddy had discovered how Jesus healed by reading and understanding the Scriptures. She was told about the two accounts of creation and Mrs. Eddy’s wonderful healing and revelation after her fall on the ice. She asked if we had the book Mrs. Eddy wrote, and I showed her the two small copies of Science and Health which we have. She went and got her parents and her Mom purchased the book for her.

A man came into the Reading Room and really studied the front window where we have various copies of Science and Health and other Christian Science literature. He asked if we had an audio version, which he wanted for his mother. She was suffering from side effects of cancer treatment. She was cancer free but the residual effects of the chemotherapy were painful. I showed him what we have, and he readily purchased an audio version for his mother, and a hardback version of Science and Health for himself. He asked me if I would send the audio to his mother, which I did. I asked how he came to know Science and Health, and he said he works here at the airport and came in early every morning for the past year to read and ponder the window before breakfast.

One day I went to take out the trash and noticed that the entire plaza was full of people waiting to get through security. I walked over to Delta and asked if their system was ok. The Delta clerk said yes, but that TSA was having a problem. I walked down to TSA and asked what the problem was? I told her I was from the Reading Room and showed her my badge, and that I was going to pray for TSA. I then walked back to our Reading Room, repeating several times that “All that God imparts moves in accord with Him, reflecting goodness and power.” (S&H p. 515.) As usual, that did the work! I went back to the Reading Room and looked up in a few minutes and the lines were moving briskly and TSA was rounding up people for quick check-in for early departing flights. A few minutes later the plaza was cleared. I just love Christian Science!

A member of The Mother Church on a business trip from Boston came in to find refuge and healing. It seemed he had gotten sick on his flight here and came in to rest and pray it through. He had just called his practitioner. After a half hour he arose and thanked us for this wonderful place. He was ready to get his rental car and start the rest of his full day of business.

A lady pilot came into the Reading Room and asked what we are. I began to tell her a little of Christian Science and she jumped in and said she needed healing. I said, “Can you buy a book?” I reasoned I couldn’t really offer Christ healing to her unless she knew what was being done. She volunteered that she needed healing of mental illness and I said, “That is an easy one, since God is Mind and we reflect nothing less, and we tell the belief that whenever it presents. What else?” She told me she had been dating a lot and felt that she was getting nowhere. She expressed that if she was going to have children, she had to get started by meeting the guy. I asked her if she had thought about the qualities she wanted in a man. She said she had and had written them down. I told her to claim them for her own, and that would attract them. Moreover, the person she was seeking was seeking her, so that there would be a meeting and that the angels would rejoice and clap their hands. That is how it works. She did purchase a blue mid-sized Sterling edition of Science and Health.

A young man came in and asked what we were, and I told him and told him a little of Christian Science. He said, “Why here? Why this city? Isn’t this like the godless city?” I said “Well, the godless make the most noise but I am not sure they are in the majority.” I showed him the two small books we have for travel and he selected the new mid-sized paperback. He was in a hurry to catch his Uber. Some people are really ready for Science and Health.

Three young men came in and asked what this was, and told me they were Christian. They said they couldn’t get answers to their questions, and wanted to know the position of Christian Science on homosexuality. I told him the church has no official position on that but that each member figures it out. He wanted to know what I thought as an individual Christian Scientist. I told him that as I understand Divine Law, it is non-judgmental and non-critical and not even a little proscriptive. Mrs. Eddy tells us that God does not punish man for what he made man capable of doing and knew from the outset that man would do. I told him that I think that we all have soul mates and that soul mates find each other; and sometimes they are indeed same sex. Moreover, one thing almost everyone comes to learn is tolerance, and frequently we learn tolerance by being in the shoes of the person(s) of whom we were intolerant. Throughout history homosexuals have been some of the most persecuted of all people, and many people are now learning (or are here to learn) the tolerance lesson. But I am sure one doesn’t go to hell for such a thing. Now Jesus was emphatic about the evil of child abuse and its consequences. The young men thanked me and really liked the explanation, and they loved the Reading Room.

A man came into the Reading Room after reading our windows thoroughly, and was interested in what we were. He was told about Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures after having been healed miraculously and instantly after reading one of the accounts of Jesus’ healings. He was waiting for his son to come in. I said, “You know, I have that book for $13.” He said, “Really? I will take one.” I showed him the Science and Health marble and the new midsized edition, which he selected. May God bless him and may his new book bless him and answer many questions.

A man came in and asked if we had a Russian S&H. I found a hardback copy of the book and he agreed to purchase it, gave me $50 and told us to keep the change! Wow! I said, “What brought you in here?” He said he was a great admirer of Mrs. Eddy, and her life, and saw the words “Christian Science Reading Room” in the airport and took a shot that we might have the book. A brilliant attendant organized our book closet (for new inventory) and labeled the foreign language texts and made a list of how many of each we had. I easily found Science and Health in Russian, which he spoke fluently. He was given our favorite travel blessing, “May the Lord preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, . . . ” from Psalms 121:8.

A gentleman came into the Reading Room from revenue management at BWI. He thought it was wonderful we had a Christian Science Reading Room at the San Francisco Airport and wanted to know how we got it and how long we have been here? I answered all his dozen questions as best I could. He asked how we afford it, and I told him that originally we had 12 churches supporting us and staffing the Reading Room and that we receive many donations. I told him that first and foremost we are a bookstore selling Bibles and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. Also we do a lot of good with our prayers for the public, the passengers, the airlines, the vendors and the airport staff. I told him a little of Christian Science, and he wanted to purchase the book. He purchased a hardback sterling edition of Science and Health. He then asked whom he might contact to find out about getting a CS Reading Room at Baltimore Washington International Airport, and it was suggested that he get in touch with the Baltimore Christian Science church. That would so bless the cities of Baltimore and Washington, DC, the travelers and environs.

A young man came in and wanted to know all about our store and our faith. He was told about Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures, and how she came to write our wonderful textbook. He purchased two copies and gave us a donation. He was so happy to be able to read it. He stayed with us all morning.

We had wonderful visitor who was looking for something to read. I asked him if he would be interested in our newspaper and he took one, and he looked through the Sentinels & Journals, but his eyes were drawn to the little themed booklets. He purchased five of them and told me to keep the change. I thanked him and asked, “How come?” He said his grandmother had been a Christian Scientist and that he had really been blessed by her grand-motherhood.

A woman with two children aged maybe 3 and 7, was standing outside the Reading Room and the children were looking in and were excited with the children’s area. I motioned them in, and they began working on the puzzles and coloring. The mom helped them a little and then asked if this was a library. She was told about the study room which was sort of a library, and that we were in the sales room. She was introduced to Christian Science and to Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery. She hung on every word, and when she heard that we sell the book for $13, she was thrilled. She gave me cash and began to read. Then she disclosed that she was Roman Catholic. She wanted to know if we had the same Bible. I said that our church uses the King James Version of the Bible. She said, “Is it different?” I told her I honestly did not know, but she should read the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We had a used KJV in the cupboard that I gave her.

A young man came in and asked what we were. I told him a little of Christian Science and Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures after she was instantly healed by reading one of the healings in the gospels. I asked if he read the Bible. He said, “Not really!” I said, “Well, when you get ready to read it, get this book and it will light the Bible up for you.” I showed him the Sterling mid-sized and the marble paperback editions of Science and Health. He read the marble paperback for a while without ever sitting down, and announced that he would buy it. I am so grateful to start the month out by offering our wonderful book to a receptive thought!

A woman came in crying and needed an Android charger to use. All of ours had disappeared with passengers. They use them and then take them. So I said, well, let’s see if you cannot buy one in the airport. She was told how to get to the store but she said she could not find it. I told her everything would be all right. But she was so lost and tired so I walked her down to air train and rode with her over one stop to International A and showed her the CBS store which had a tech rack and there were her chargers, in black and white. She had said it would be $40. I told her no, not in America. We found it for $22. Then she said she could not afford it. I only had my store keys, so I told her, “Do your best. Go out into that large group of passengers and someone will let you borrow the cord.” It was a strong case of her mental malpractice on herself and no one could get through. But as I left she hugged me, and I told her that it would all work out. Then I quietly prayed to God to bless and help her, as I knew He would! God blesses all of us whenever we ask! In her case it is “Please, Father do what you can!”

A young man came in and asked what we had. I gave him some Sentinels and a Monitor to look through. He read one article and came in and was so impressed. He asked, “Where can I learn more?” He sat down and was told a little of Christian Science and introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her writings. He asked, “Can it heal insanity?” I said, “Yes,” and in the Bible I read to him the healing of the man in the Gadarenes. He was told that Mary Baker Eddy talks about that treatment in her book, and that if man is a reflection of the one infinite Mind which is God, he cannot be insane. Then he asked about addiction. He was shown our little themed collection called “Freedom from Addiction,” which he promptly purchased. He asked me how I would treat a case of insanity. I gave him several examples of addiction healed and the metaphysical treatment, knowing that man is the reflection of God. Thus, if God cannot be addicted, neither can man (or the patient). When we depend on God, we are truly free. I suggested, “Try walking away from the material substance being abused, and rejoice in how good you feel that you don’t need it. With God there is no ‘substance withdrawal’ because there is no substance but the divine.” We went over possible treatments or statements of truth about alcoholism and smoking. Before he left I asked him what he did for a living. He said, “I am a nurse in a mental health facility.” WOW!

An African-American gentleman came in, saying, “What is a Christian Science Reading Room doing in an airport? This would never happen in Atlanta!” I explained that there used to be others and we had been here a long time, meeting many diverse needs. This resulted in a lengthy, inspiring, and fascinating conversation so that he almost missed his flight home. Growing up in a small town in Georgia, he regularly visited the Christian Science Reading Room on the main street where the nice ladies were always so kind and gave him candy. He is a follower of Unity, has a copy of Science and Health, and bought a pamphlet, saying he had others. He knows the Bible well, and we discussed how to pray over the divisive issue of racism with Genesis 1, realizing God as Father-Mother and the brotherhood of all mankind. This was so helpful to me to begin to understand how our perceptions frequently differed, yet we were at one on turning to man’s oneness with God in prayer.

Two beautiful people came from Ghana. They were in the army traveling to their next assignment, and the woman told she was a Christian Science nurse serving in the military. I got right up and gave her a hug. I asked the man if he was a Christian Scientist. He said no, and did not appear to know anything about it. He was told that Mary Baker Eddy figured out how Jesus healed and a little of Christian Science. I introduced him to Christian healing and some of how Mrs. Eddy found it in the Scriptures. He was shown the versions of Science and Health I had for $13, and then he asked if I had a smaller one. I showed him the Sterling pocket paperback edition of Science and Health, which he gratefully purchased.

Two women from India who are Christians dropped in and sat down on the two chairs facing the desk. There were on their way to take their mother to Seattle for a family’s funeral. They asked if I would pray for them. I had just finished reading the pamphlet “From Earth to Heaven.” We bowed our heads and I prayed aloud for five or ten minutes. They said they felt so blessed to have dropped in, and we had a conversation about the power and love of God, and a brief discussion of Christian Science. Before they left we repeated the 91st Psalm together, their and my favorite psalm. They left with a copy of “From Earth to Heaven.”

A young woman who works here and who is very spiritually-minded, asked if we had Bibles. I said, “Yes, lots of them.” She asked how much, and I showed the $10 version and the $45 Sterling desk size. Then I showed her the last of our Newtype Bibles with the pink cover. As we talked, I was led to introduce her to Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian Healing and her wonderful book; and how the book really sheds the light on the spiritual import of the Bible and teaches one to heal with it. She purchased the Bible and a Science and Health.

A wonderful family came into the Reading Room and they did not have much time before their flight. They were interested in what we had. They had a little babe with them (aged one-ish) and a 9-year old who was not with them. I showed them our children’s books. Step by Step seemed the best choice but it cost more than they wanted to spend. They also were interested in the music CDs and ended up purchasing the Let’s Sing CD from the first Hymnal Supplement with vocalists singing the hymns.

A gentleman came in and asked what we were and what was going on here. I told him about Mrs. Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing in the Scriptures and her divine message to write a book. I ended up showing him the punch line early, which is the first sentence of the chapter on Prayer in Science and Health. Then I went and told him my short presentation. He purchased both a Science and Health and the earlier version of Christian Healer by Fettweis and Warneck, which had been in the window a long time which I discounted because the jacket was very faded on the back. He then said, “Can you pray for me or with me?” I said, “Sure. What do you need?” He said, “My wife and I really want to have a baby.” I said, “Of course, why not?” And I went straight to God and said, “Can we get we get that done?” And I felt this wonderful presence of large love, and a sense wonderful children were coming to this man and his wife. I so informed him, and he was very grateful. God is so good. He asked if there is anything he and his wife might do. I did not state the obvious, but told him to have fun and no anxiety or concern about not conceiving, and that these babes will come at their time in God’s time. We call it God’s timing, because truly it is.

We have a regular Arrowhead water delivery-man who had another tech with him today when he came in. Our tech changed the water and delivered a new one, while the other man read the window. I saw him reading the Science and Health citation, and then when our tech, Gary, walked out, he showed the citation to him. When he walked by, I signaled him and told him we sell that book for $13. He said, “Really!” I showed him the two I have, and he readily purchased the Marble edition of Science and Health. He then shared that his wife was going through something. He was shown the last 100 pages which are letters to Mary Baker Eddy from people who have had healings of every disease known to man healed just by reading the book! I saw Gary several weeks later when he came in with the water delivery, and he told me that his friend wanted us to know how much the book had helped his wife, and to thank us for being here in that important moment of need.

A young priest came in and wanted to know what Christian Science was all about. I introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and her writings, and explained a little of the history of Christian Science. He asked many questions, and when I asked for the sale, he looked so disappointed. I know that priests never carry much money, but I did not have one to give him. I did give him a Christian Science Journal with the list of churches and told him were he to visit a church, the church would probably give him a paperback copy of Science and Health.

A young man came in on his way to Minnesota, and he was a missionary. He said, “I was just led to come in here.” I said, “Would you like to know what Christian Science is?” He said, “Yes, I would.” He was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy who had figured out how Jesus healed and had written this book about it. I then went through my introduction of Mary Baker Eddy and told how she had been healed by reading one of the accounts of Jesus healings and how she came to understand the spiritual import of the Bible and became a great Christian healer. Later when she healed the patient of a doctor who was witness to the healing, he told her to write a book. Her next opening of the Bible for inspiration or direction was to Isaiah 30:8 which told her to “Now go write it in a table or note it in a book so that it may be for the time to come forever and ever!” At that direction, she published her first copy of Science and Health in 1875 which was ten years after her healing of the fall on the ice. Then I asked for the sale and showed him our two paperback copies. He said he had to talk to his wife. I queried, “For $13? That isn’t money.” He said that they were missionaries and were on their way back from Thailand. They really watched their money. I told him the book would heal that because “the superabundance of being is on the side of God, good.” (SH: 201:11-12.)

He asked if he could pray for us. I said, “Yes what are you going to pray?” He said he wanted to bless and pray for our work. He then blessed us, and our work here and called us a bright light in a sometimes-dark area. He prayed we stay salty meaning our “salt not lose its saltness and our light be not hid,” and that our work be blessed. He thanked us so much for the book. He was given our card, and a Christian Science Journal and Sentinel, and a Christian Science Monitor.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Christian Science churches and individuals for their interest in and support of this Reading Room. For comments, questions, or to send a donation, please mail to:

Christian Science Reading Room
Jointly Maintained
Harley Bennett, Treasurer
23871 Willows Drive, #384
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Two gentlemen walked by and one stopped to look at the window. The other came back to see what he was looking at.   As he began to read the front window, I got up out of my chair and picked out a Christian Science Monitor and Sentinel magazine for him and told him to take them, that they were free. Then he came and asked about the book in the window. He noticed we have several languages. I asked, “Which language are you interested in?” He said “Portuguese.” I got a new one off the shelf and gave it to him, and began to tell him about Mary Baker Eddy and how she came to write it. Before I finished, he asked, “Can I pay cash?”

A young couple from China came and visited our Reading Room this morning. They asked, “What is a Christian Science Reading Room?” I told them a little of Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy and her search of the Scriptures. I always offer the book after I have reached the point of introducing them to the book with page 1, chapter 1, and sentence 1. Today I said, The first sentence of the book is actually from the Bible, but the first words that Mrs. Eddy wrote are: ‘The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God—a spiritual understanding of Him—an unselfed love.’” (Science and Health, page 1:1-4.) Then I told them I have the book for $13.

He said they were Chinese and I said, “Oh we do not have Science and Health in Chinese,” to which he readily responded, “Oh, we read English well!” Of course they do! Duh! I immediately pulled out the midsize and the signature paperback copies of Science and Health, as well as the Sterling desk size in hardback and in paperback, just to show them what we have. They purchased both the Sterling hardback and signature marble paperback copies of Science and Health, with the intention of giving the hardback to their pastor at home. And I silently thanked God and those lovely people for taking Christian Science to their neighborhood of China.

A man came into the Reading Room today and looked at a Journal and asked “How much is it?” I said “$11 with no tax on that magazine.” He was reluctant to spend cash because he said, “I am stuck.” I said, “Ok, here is a free one which is an older copy.” He asked how to subscribe and I told him the easiest way was to call the 800 number which I showed him on the back. I then showed him our wonderful Christian Science Monitor, and gave him one.   He said that he had always heard it called The Monitor. I told him that we often abbreviate it. Then I said, “How about a little metaphysics since you are in a Christian Science Reading Room? First of all, you are never stuck because God is never stuck. And ‘May the Lord preserve thy going out and thy coming in . . .’ We specialize in travel here at CSRR at SFO.” He thanked me so much and I directed him to Alaska Airlines, who has many flights to his destination, so that he might find an open seat.

A young man came in and asked what we were. I told him a little of Christian Science and that Mary Baker Eddy figured out how Jesus healed and wrote this amazing book about it. As I began my account of her discovery, he stopped and asked, pointing to the desk copy of Science and Health, “Is this the book?” I said yes, and that I had that book for $13.00. And I showed him the mid-sized and the marble editions of Science and Health. He told me he needed a healing for his mother who felt threatened by a dread disease. I said that is an easy one in Christian Science because other cures are sort of painful and not always successful. He was told that the last 100 pages of Science and Health (the Fruitage chapter) tell of healings of every disease known to man, including cancer, just from reading the book! As I handed him the book, I said, “This will heal your mom.” He handed me the cash and thanked me. I love Science and Health. It always heals!

A man read the window. He was attracted to the Sentinel Reprint of “Cancer Healed!” He then came into the Reading Room; he was told that we had lots of healing magazines and I picked out three for him, and he asked if he could stay and read. I said, “By all means, please!” He remarked how wonderful this sanctuary was. Then he asked about Christian Science. I explained how Mary Baker Eddy came to write her marvelous book, and he readily purchased two of them, one for himself and one for his friend. He had forgotten about the time change so that he was an hour early for his flight. He said, “You know maybe I was supposed to forget about the time change, so I could come here!”

An elderly gentlemen came in today and thanked us for being here and for all we do. He is a student of religion. I told him a little of Christian Science and introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and her search through the Scriptures and her discovery of how Jesus healed.   She tested it; she proved it; and she named it Christian Science. He purchased a larger sized paperback Sterling edition of Science and Health and a new Monitor. I suggested that he attend one of our Wednesday evening testimony meetings and listen to some of the testimonies. I gave him a Journal so he could go to church in upstate New York when he got home.

A wonderful woman came into the Reading Room and asked if she could read a bit. She was early for a 3 pm appointment with a doctor in San Francisco because she said her neck was collapsing. I said, “Well you came to the right place. You are in a Christian Science Reading Room. You should buy our book!” She was a commercial artist and had some great stories of experience with clients. She was interested in the airport art and exhibits and I told her where our museums and art exhibits are displayed.   When she was getting ready to go, she said, “I am going to buy your book.” And she purchased a paperback marble edition of Science and Health. I know it will bless her.   We have such great visitors.

A young woman came in and asked, “What is this place?” She was told about Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of how Jesus healed and how she came to write her book. She asked if I had that book and I said, “Oh, yes!” as I pulled out several of them. She selected the marble paperback copy of Science and Health because she was travelling.   She said, “I am so looking forward to reading this! I have been wandering away and am really ready to get back to Scripture.” She had such a lightness of heart and sweet smile. I just know she will love Science and Health.

A regular visitor came into the Reading Room with two guests and they were in the study room reading the Bible. I went into the study room and was asked to tell him about the markers in the book. He was shown how the Quarterly gives us a weekly Bible lesson to study, and these books are marked with the citations shown on the page. I then explained that Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed and had written this marvelous book to explain it and teach other healers how to do the first works. He readily purchased a sterling paperback edition of Science and Health.

Just before closing a woman came in and sat down and pulled a well-worn leather-bound copy of Science and Health from her bag saying, “Look what I found in my bag at home. I brought it to read. Then I saw your Reading Room and read the citation in the window and began to cry. I came in to see if you had a minute to talk to me?” I said, “Of course, what is going on?” She told me about relationship problems. She gave the impression she felt as if she was being torn apart. She was told how to release this stress and give it to God—that it was her job to see others as God’s children and give the problems to God. If tempted to worry, then release the problems again. She made a prayer to do this, and she kept saying it until she felt completely refreshed.   She had a complete change of heart. I am so grateful to be able to help our visitors.

A young woman read the window early this morning, and then came in. She asked me, “What is Christian Science about?” I happily told her that Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed and wrote a book about it. She was told a little of Mrs. Eddy’s early life in New England and her search through the Scriptures and her discovery of Christian healing.   We talked further, and I could tell she was a natural healer. I said, “Oh you have to have this book. It will help you.” I showed her the Fruitage chapter, and told her that the book focuses on health, but it applies to everything: addiction, finance, relationships, etc., as she will see by reading it.   Originally, the book was non-denominational. Mrs. Eddy did not set out to start a church, but her students wanted to worship God the way she did. They began church services on the order of Congregational Christian churches. Mrs. Eddy was the original pastor, but she eventually named the King James Bible and her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, as our pastor.

Later a young man came in and asked if he could sit and read. For a long time we had two visitors in the study room. Later I had to print something in the study room, and when I got to the printer, our guest asked, “What is this Christian Science?” I gave him my 10-minute introduction to Mary Baker Eddy, her discovery in the Scriptures of Christian healing, and explained how she came to write her book.

He then asked, “What does the church say about homosexuality?” I told him that officially, the church has no official position on that. Each member works out these questions by inquiring of Scripture, our textbook and God. He asked me what I thought and we talked for an hour about it. I told him I am sure you don’t go to hell for such a thing because Mrs. Eddy says that “In common justice, we must admit that God will not punish man for doing what He created man capable of doing, and knew from the outset that man would do. God is ‘of purer eyes than to behold evil.’ We sustain Truth not by accepting, but by rejecting a lie.” [S&H 357: 1]. In the New Testament we have, “In the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” [Matt 22:30] And in Luke, “The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage. [Luke 20:34] The Scripture suggests that in heaven we do not procreate, but that all souls are God’s as we are told in the Scriptures, “All souls are mine saith the Lord.” He thought it marvelous that we could read Scripture and figure out what it means without listening to experts. Mrs. Eddy teaches us that.

A man came in and sat down while he was waiting for his son, and I began to talk a little of Christian Science. I got as far as introducing him to the book, and how it heals, when he interrupted saying, “Can it heal other problems?” I said, “Yes! Everything. Sin, disease, death, addiction, finance, relationships, anything.” He shared that he needed a healing of a relationship with his son. He son was 19 and a twin of the brother whose flight they were meeting. The father was a little estranged because he had asked the young man to live elsewhere if he was not going to abide by the house rules. Then his two daughters came in, one of his sixteen year olds, and a 19-year old soon to be daughter in law. So this man has literally 6 teenagers although soon the twins will turn 20. But still, my heart went out to him.   We talked about how love heals and that when he got mad at his son to just turn his thinking to “He is God’s beloved child!” and leave it at that. What happens is that when someone is angry or outraged, the heart closes down a little. When they laugh or experience love or joy even for a moment, the heart opens a little, and the love you sent will find its way in to his heart and the recipient will feel it. It will soften his thinking. It takes a little practice. I asked him to try.   He told me that he had been looking for a book that would help him. He purchased a marble copy of Science and Health and told me he felt so much relief having talked to me. They were from Modesto, so he took a camera shot of the Modesto church listing from our Christian Science Journal.

A woman came into the Reading Room. She was told a little of Christian Science and introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and how she came to write her wonderful book. She kept asking me how it works, and I said, “Just let me tell you,” and I finished with the first sentence from Science and Health after the Bible citation. Her friend only spoke Portuguese and was on her way back to Bogotá. The lady then came in and the visitor explained to her some of what I had been telling her. Then I told her I had the book in Portuguese! And it is a fairly new translation of it. She readily purchased it. She asked for an airport employee discount. When I rang it up it rang at 9% off, because it was priced so that the tax was included in the $36. So she got her discount.

A young man came in and asked what this was. And before I could answer, he asked if he could read in here.   I said, “Yes, you can read our literature or anything. The best book I have is in there on the desk called Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.” He read for almost an hour. When he came out, he asked, “Why is it that people do not get healed?” I said, “Well, it depends upon the person. Some people define themselves by an illness like the guy at the pool of Bethesda who saw himself as the man who couldn’t make it into the pool first. Jesus had to ask him twice if he wanted a healing, which he received. Sometimes people do not believe they deserve to be healed, or that their treatment is ineffective. Some people think they are unworthy or that the disease in inevitable because of inheritance or family history.” Each person has to be treated separately and individually, depending upon his or her need of understanding. He thanked me and left.

A woman named Lori called to talk to someone. She was feeling low and lonely since her husband of 45 years passed. We talked about Love and Life and eternity as she knew it as a Christian Scientist. I told her to call back anytime. She said she was putting it all in the hands of God. I reminded her that was where she finds her dominion and shared a healing of grief I had which lead to great gratitude for having even the short span of time with my little babe, my little angel who turned me back to God. Love brings only blessings that cannot be turned into sorrow.

A woman who had just arrived from Israel had several hours to wait in the airport until her cousin arrived from Ohio. She had chosen our Reading Room in advance to be their meeting place so I invited her to make herself at home and bring her luggage in. She was very curious about Christian Science, especially why it was called “Science” and how it compared with other religions or Christianity. We talked for several hours. As it turned out she was here to visit a relative who was expected to die soon. I felt our discussion about Christian Science views on eternal life and the peace of knowing one has an inseparable relationship to the power of all Being, which is Love itself, had a healing effect on her thought and gave her a welcome crumb from Christ’s table. When her cousin arrived, she said, “Oh my mother-in-law is a Christian Scientist. She was expected to die, but attributed a recovery and long life to having read this book.” They were both so grateful for our hospitality.

An Ethiopian woman came in on her way to Washington, DC to go to a conference to help her country reach peace in the face of religious conflict. We talked about the power of prayer, of recognizing God’s government as supreme as opposed to human will via political power. I gave her the pamphlet, “The Democracy of Prayer.” We agreed to pray together for God’s will to be done worldwide, and to expect progress to advance mankind out of the stirring thought of seeming conflict.

A young man came into the Reading Room asking if I had these three books, and he showed me a trilogy in the back of a book he was reading. I told I was sure he could get them on Amazon, and that a Christian bookstore might have them. I said, we sell Christian Science literature and Bibles. And I told him a little of Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing, and her teaching, and willingness to write a book about it. I showed him our book, and announced that he could not buy this book (pointing to the marble edition I had sitting on the desk) cheaper than he could get it here. He picked up the book, and said, “Oh, I have a good feeling about this book!”   Then he said, “Is cash ok?” I said, “Oh yes, that is our favorite! Thank you!” What a delightful young man. He mentioned that he had not really gotten into reading the Bible yet. I said, “Oh be sure and read this first (pointing to the Science and Health I just sold him), and when you are ready, the Bible will be very understandable. You will love it!”

Ben, a Filipino repairman who occasionally works at SFO, came in to ask if we were Christians. He is a born again Christian, although I couldn’t discern the denomination. He had frequently read the marked passages in our books displayed in our front window. He wanted a recommendation for a helpful book to read. I recommended Science and Health and told him about how Mrs. Eddy started our healing Christian religion. I told him about our practitioners, and suggested he stop by again whenever our Librarian was here. He was given two free Christian Science Monitors, and a Sentinel.

Ben came back while the Librarian was in but she did not have a free Science and Health to give away. The last time he came in, she said, “You know, I have this book for only $13. I would buy it for you, but I think you make more money than I do, and I think you can afford it!” He was shown the Sterling mid-sized and marble paperback copies of Science and Health, and he whipped out a credit card and readily purchased a marble copy. He said, “I thought it was expensive.” I said some are, but no one starts with a leather bound version.

A Muslim man came in and asked about Christian Science and what it was. Having lived in Dubai and done a lot of work in Interfaith, I knew a lot about Islam and the Koran and points of understanding God that connects with Christian Science.   We dug deep with each other for awhile and he looks forward to coming back next time he travels, usually monthly.

A man came in and began to ask about Christian Science. I began to tell him a little of it and invited him to sit down. His name was Mark, and he listened intently and then asked if Christian Science could heal him. I said, “What have you got?” He walked around to my side of the desk and looked at me very earnestly and told me he was bipolar. I said, “Oh yes! I was healed of that, a really bad case. They called it manic depressive illness at the time!” I told him about my discovery of Mrs. Eddy’s revelation, and readily joined the church when invited to do so. I then told him all about the healing and how in retrospect, God had been preparing me for the healing as soon as I had asked Him how I could get well, and I began to do what I was led to do instead of fighting it. He readily purchased the marble Science and Health and asked me to pray with him. We prayed the Lord’s Prayer with the spiritual interpretation from Science and Health with some specifics to meet that illness. All the cases I have ever heard of healings of that illness have been in Christian Science.

A young woman, S, came in this morning and was surprised we had a Reading Room here in the airport. I told her that we were the only Christian Science Reading Room in the world that’s located in an airport. We really support the airport and airline travel as well as help people to understand more of Christian Science and Christian healing. I thought she might be a Christian Scientist, but she was not. So she was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and her first healing experience by reading the Bible, in what she later named Christian Science. The visitor loved what she heard and she readily purchased Science and Health.

A little while later, a wonderful gentleman came in asking about the Word of God and described how he studied. He mentioned a verse from Hebrews which I knew and finished his quotation and we struck up an instant conversation about it. Then he asked if we had a certain piece of literature, and I said, “No, we carry Christian Science literature and Bibles,” and I began to tell him about Christian Science. He was told of Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of Christian healing, and her further discovery of the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures. Finally he was told of how she came to write her book. Then he said, “Some Christians say, ‘”For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.’” (I Cor. ii. 2.) And I said, “Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health says, ‘I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him glorified.’” He instantly purchased the book.

Another man came in beaming and exclaimed, “What a wonderful place for a store like this!”   Again, I thought he might be a Christian Scientist or know about it, but he began to tell me about his having found God in science as an engineer. He found things that could only be explained by God’s existence. And he had searched journals and scientific writings for other explanations of certain phenomena and found that many writers had come to the conclusion to which he had come. And he said, “You really have to dig for information. It isn’t readily available. “

He was told how Mary Baker Eddy had discovered Christian healing in the Scriptures. Then he mentioned that his wife had cancer.   I asked, “What is she doing for it?” He said “Well the first time she did chemo,” and I said, “Oh, she must be so done with that! Buy our book. It will heal her.” I jumped up and showed him our two travel copies, and showed him the Fruitage chapter. I said, “These are testimonies of healings of every disease known to man by just reading the book. Cancer is in here several times I think.” He readily got his Amex card out and purchased the book, and thanked me and thanked us for being here.

I came in 20 minutes early because I had a car appointment in Berkeley and drove straight over.   A minute after I sat down a Chinese gentleman came in on his way to LA and asked about our Reading Room and our merchandise. I explained to him that Mary Baker Eddy had figured out how Jesus healed and had written a wonderful book about it, which led to all this. I picked up in the middle of the presentation and showed him how Mrs. Eddy became inspired to write the book by a doctor before whose eyes she had healed his patient. He told her, “You must write a book!” Then the Bible told her the same thing in Isaiah 30:8 the next time she opened it!^[1] Then this man was shown the first sentence of Science and Health and he thought it was wonderful. He was shown the small travel editions and he looked through and read some of the marble edition, and readily agreed to purchase it. I am sure that he will read it and be blessed by it, and bless his country and America. He had visited Stanford University and taken pictures of the beautiful church on or near the campus property and showed it to me. He was very receptive.

[1] Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: (Isaiah 30:8)

Our work on “no resistance” has really paid off. There is no resistance to Christ and Christian Science and Christianity.

We had had some trouble with mental malpractice against our Reading Room, identified by a very alert volunteer who is a Journal-listed practitioner. This led to a lively online email group discussion about how this should be handled. And our board of trustees took up the work, selecting the metaphysical topic of “No Resistance to the Christ or Christian Science.” And the visitor had some problems. While he was judging and malpracticing our faith, he was homeless, without a car and living in his estranged wife’s borrowed car. And he has an 8-month old little girl whom he adores but only gets to see every couple of weeks. Our work led us to affirm “No resistance to the Christ, that visitors were receptive to Christ and Christian Science,” and we loved that visitor, which he really needed. The first month, he found affordable housing; then soon he purchased the right car he needed. And we sold eight copies of Science and Health that month to people who had never heard of Christian Science, compared to the prior month when we had only sold two. We are so blessed!

A young man came into the Reading Room and asked if I had an Android charger. I said yes, and handed him one and pointed to the outlet. He made his important call and when he was finished he came out and thanked me, and shared that he had walked the airport for six hours looking for a charge. I inquired, “What brought you here?” He declared, “God!”

Greetings and blessings from the Christian Science Reading Room at the San Francisco International Airport. Enjoy the testimonies of our attendants:

A woman came in to give me a bottle of mineral water which she could not take through security. She was from South Africa and had been touring San Francisco. To thank her, I told her a little of Christian Science and how Mrs. Eddy had come to write her wonderful book. She readily purchased a copy of Science and Health. She was given a Christian Science Journal to take with her so that she could see the Journal listings of churches in South Africa.

A woman had been using our Reading Room as a place to “get away” from the noisy busyness of the airport and to also work on her computer on a work project. She has always been courteous and respectful and it has always been nice to have her visit over the last several weeks. Today I noticed her in the corner of our Bound Volumes reading a number of articles. Apparently she was drinking “a cup of cold water in Christ’s name,” from our virtual well.

A woman who works for the airlines came in. She said she had always assumed we were Scientology, but tonight she noticed the Children’s Bible storybooks which caused her to wonder and to come in and to ask. I explained we are Christian. She took a couple of free Sentinels.   And she said she would be back.

Just before closing last night a young man came in and said, “Oh, I need to talk to you! You’re not going to like it but I need to talk to you. Christians don’t usually like to hear from me.” Of course, we ended up having a fun and light conversation, about many things, and also about God and the Bible and he kept saying things like, “Uh huh, I see that. Yes, that sounds right. So, God is good – is that it?” He had grown up in another denomination and had left it behind. He was shown a whole other branch of Christianity that was not fire and brimstone.

A woman came in looking a bit down, and told me she decided to leave the corporate world to follow her love of art. After cashing in her assets, she was beginning to doubt her decision. We discussed knowing that as we pray to God, humbly, we can only expect His loving support and direction. I read the first line of the textbook to her: “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings!” (S&H pg. vii)   I gave her some Christian Science Sentinels with articles on “Keeping our Prayers Generous” and “Spiritual Education.” She beamed with this new awareness of God’s loving guidance and parted with saying, “I just felt guided to come in here and now I am glad I did!”

A wonderful visitor came in with his son and were introduced to Christian Science and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. He told me about his daughter who had never spoken. She was 20 and in college, and she was mute. He was told that Christian Science could heal her.   He was told a little of Christian Science and how Mrs. Eddy came to write her book. I asked him if his daughter wanted to be healed. He said, “Of course! That is like asking, “Is the sky blue?” He asked, “What makes you think she hasn’t been prayed for by many people, and why haven’t they healed her.” I told him “Because of their unbelief!“ Also, truly it might have something to do with the child and where her heart is with muteness. Some topics are very delicate, but Christian Science can and will heal her, if she wants healing. She was given a provisional Christian Science treatment contingent upon her willingness to be healed. The story of Naaman was in the Christian Science Bible lesson that week. The prophet Elisha told Naaman to go and wash seven times in the river Jordan. He put the healing in place and when Naaman was ready, he went down to the river Jordan and washed seven times and was cleansed. The girl was given essentially the same kind of treatment. She just has to try to speak! “Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life . . . “(S&H pg. 249)

A lady began reading the window, and then came in and asked to look around. She asked about our hours and how I came here. I told her how my predecessor had taught me how to share what we have and who we are in ten minutes. She learned a little about Christian Science. She asked about Christian Science and Christianity and she was shown the tenets and read them aloud from our desk copy of Science and Health. Then, she was told how Mrs. Eddy came to write her book and how she started her church. I explained that Christian Science heals everything, not just the body, but that the focus of the book is health and healing. She said, “I will take one.” She then shared that she was a nurse, and that she prayed for her patients. I said you will love this. She asked for our card in case she has questions. I even wrote my name and personal phone number on the back.

A family was having their picture taken in front of the Reading Room. I went out to talk to the family of five and was told they were Christian Scientists and attended the church in Accra, Ghana. They were surprised to see a Christian Science Reading Room at the airport and wanted to take a photo of it to show the people in Ghana. Then early Sunday two young gentlemen came in beaming and told me they were also Christian Scientists from Ghana! They were born and raised in Science in Ghana and class-taught there! I was thrilled and honored to meet them and they were thrilled to come into a Christian Science Reading Room in an airport. I welcomed them to San Francisco!

A visitor came in last night and asked me a lot of questions, and I told her of little of Christian Science. She purchased Science and Health from us and began to study Christian Science from it.

A man came in and asked if he could sit down for a few minutes. I gladly welcomed him in. Then he came back and asked if I knew of a paramedic. I asked what was wrong, and he told me he had fallen here in the airport when a child had run into him. He had bumped his head. I readily shared that I was a Christian Science healer and God would gladly heal that right now. He readily agreed. I told him that he was a perfect child of God because it says so right here, and I pointed to the Bible. I said it is God’s will for you to be well and we do not go against His will. And further, there are no concussions in Divine Mind, which governs all! I shared my own healing of the belief of concussion. He smiled and said that he was in no position to argue with me. He sat for a few minutes and walked out healed. Christian Science heals everything.

A woman walked in declaring, “How nice to have a Reading Room to go to!” She commented that she discovered Mary Baker Eddy’s poem and hymn, “Feed My Sheep,” as she went through the 12-step program with Alcoholics Anonymous, a recovery group. We discussed life and went over thoughts on spiritual renewal. She left with a Sentinel and a copy of the hymn “Feed My Sheep” from the Christian Science Hymnal.

A woman came in and asked a reverse question, “You don’t sell Bibles do you?” I said, “Yes, lots of them.” I pulled four different issues of the King James Version and she selected the little midsize for $20. She got her cash out, and she only had $19. I said, “I’ll take it!” Then I said, “If you are coming back tomorrow anyway, please buy this companion book,” and I pulled out Science and Health. I told her it would light up the Scripture for her because it presented the spiritual interpretation and understanding of it. She asked how much it was, and I told her $13.00. She said, “Can I just take that?” I said, “Of course!” And then she said, “Do you take donations?” I told her we did, and she let us keep the change of $6. She would not take change! What a lovely visitor!

I heard a man ask someone how to get to the car rentals. I went out to meet him and answer his question, and invited him to the Reading Room. I offered him free literature and he left with two Monitors, a Sentinel and the brochure, “What is Christian Science?” I would not have met him if I did not obey the angel voice to reach out to help.

A woman with a beautiful baby was outside our window in the vestibule and I was admiring her baby when she came in and asked where she could get a ride with a baby car seat? I had no idea but suggested Uber and Lyft, and told her that the taxis were downstairs. I began to tell her about BART but she was going to Dolores Street and BART doesn’t really go there. But I told her I would pray for her to be given the correct transportation that she required. She came back and gave me a big smile and a thank you with her thumbs up; she had found her Uber ride with the car seat!

A young woman came in who said she was from Brazil and a Christian, but who had some deep concerns dealing with criticism towards her within her church. She asked her pastor to pray for her. I told her that God is Love and loves her and her accusers equally. We discussed the importance of loving God and mankind unconditionally, and how she has every right to pray directly to God. She purchased the booklet, “Possession” and I gave her a couple of Sentinels and a brochure on Christian Science. She left with a bounce in her step!

A man read the window and came in and asked if I had a Spanish Bible, Santa Biblia. I showed him the three I had. I then decided to show him the newest Spanish translation of Science and Health. I told him it was a wonderful book that would light up the scripture. He readily purchased the Spanish translation of Science and Health, entitled Ciencia Y Salud. He asked if I was Christian. I said “Yes, Christian Science.” He then asked, “Pentecostal?” I said “No, Christian Science.” He said, “Catholic?” I walked around the desk and showed him the pamphlet entitled “Discover the Inspired Word,” and read him the first three tenets. He then said he was a pastor. I said, “Oh you will love Science and Health and learn a lot from it.” He then had to leave, so I didn’t have a chance to explain any of Christian Science to him, but he had purchased the book and it will bless him.

A couple came in to read awhile. He was flying and she was dropping him off. His departure was an hour away but they wanted to go through security to get a better view of the solar eclipse that day. Only ticketed passengers are allowed through, so she came back and watched the eclipse from just outside the Reading Room, which in itself was a healing. That morning our San Francisco fog has eclipsed the eclipse! I had been praying that somehow I would get to see it, knowing I had to be in the Reading Room that morning. As it turns out, we have a fairly new walkway between T1 and T2 that has a partial glass ceiling and some very high transom windows that provided a spectacular view of the eclipse. The fog thinned out just enough around the eclipse that we could see it perfectly. And our visitor had eclipse glasses to share the view not just with me, but with every interested passerby. The Bay Area got 70% coverage, which is the most I have ever seen in my life. And I had a much better view than from anywhere else I could have been! God truly blessed us, our visitors and the airport customers and staff!

A gentleman came in just before 10 pm, and we talked about his background, which included varied beliefs from India, but he knew the good reputation of the Christian Science Monitor. He was very open to the textbook and I discussed Mary Baker Eddy and her healing, etc.  I sensed a bit of reluctance to pay for the textbook so I treated him to a free copy. He said he was going to read it and bring it back to me in the Reading Room. He is a software developer for a large company in San Francisco.

A woman and her son came in and she was interested in the Gospels, especially the newer ones recently discovered. I showed her the Apocrypha but we do not sell it.   Then we talked about our books, and about Christian Science and Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of how Jesus healed. She was shown a hardback edition on the desk that we talk from and she asked if we had it? She was shown the paperback and hardback desk size Sterling editions. I told her this would light up the Scripture for her, in addition to teaching her to heal with Truth and with Scripture.   She liked what she heard, and she readily purchased the paperback Sterling Science and Health.

I was led to go straight to get coffee on the way in this morning instead of stopping at the Reading Room and opening it, as it was early—only 7:20 a.m. The gentleman asked me where I was going (meaning flying). I had luggage (my computer and Wednesday reader books). I answered, “Right over there to the Christian Science Reading Room.” He asked if we were connected to the Unitarian church. I said, “No, but Christian Science influenced some of their teachings, as it did Religious Science.” We struck up a conversation about Christian Science and I invited him to join me in the Reading Room, which he did. I spoke a little about Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy’s discovery of how Jesus healed, and he was happy to know who we were.

A man came in to the Reading Room to ask the attendant what this place was. She told him a little of Christian Science and gave him a Christian Science Sentinel and Monitor as examples of our literature. He then asked about our churches and the attendant gave him a Christian Science Journal. He was delighted to find that one of our churches was only 45 minutes away! Then the attendant told him to read a little of Science and Health. She gave him the book and suggested he read the chapter on prayer. He went into the study room, read it, and came out and purchased a Sterling Hardback edition of Science and Health.

A man walked in and quickly sat down, and said he was the soloist at a Christian Science Church some years ago; and that he knew about Christian Science. He then said he was recently in jail and a Christian Science chaplain gave him “something like a magazine that had both the Bible and the other book, but it was taken from me.” I replied, no worries, our gift to you!” As I handed him a September full-text, his face lit up, and he quickly left.

A young woman came in and wanted me to explain Christian Science. She spoke very little English, but she understood it very well. As we talked she said she was Mongolian and I wondered if we had any literature in Mongolian. She was offered a Japanese Science and Health but she was very sure that that was not what she wanted. I asked if she could read English and she said, “Oh yes.” I gave her a Science and Health to read. She spent over and hour sitting here at the desk just reading Science and Health, and as she read, she would look up words on her phone and often nod and read on. Then she very graciously nodded and left saying “all her questions had been answered!”

A young man came in asking, “What is this?” I began to tell him a little of Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy and how Mrs. Eddy figured out how Jesus healed and wrote a book about it. He immediately told me he needed a healing. (His issues were lack of self-esteem, lack of a sense of purpose, and sense of productivity and accomplishment that he has had since childhood.) I said of course, and began to finish my explanation. He interrupted again and I assured him that the waymarks of his journey would be clear, that he would be shown what he was supposed to do, and that divine advice is always loving, clear, helpful, and repetitive. “This is the way, walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.” I am so happy to share Christian Science with the public and to have the opportunity to pray for the world in this beautiful, quiet, and watchful setting immersed in the Christ, Science.

This Reading Room is supported by many Christian Science Churches and individuals.  The seven participating churches in the Bay Area who each hold a seat on the board are:  First Church, San Francisco, Ninth Church, San Francisco, First Church, Danville, First Church, Hayward, First Church, Los Altos, First Church, Menlo Park, First Church, Palo Alto, First Church, San Rafael.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Christian Science churches and individuals for their interest in and support of this Reading Room. For comments, questions, or to send a donation, please mail to:

Christian Science Reading Room Jointly Maintained

Harley Bennett, Treasurer

23871 Willows Drive, #384

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Greetings and blessings from the Christian Science Reading Room at the San Francisco International Airport. Enjoy the testimonies of our attendants:

A young woman having arrived in San Francisco came in early and asked me, “What is Christian Science?” I told her it was the most wonderful religion, which a woman from New England started from her teachings. She learned of Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of Christian healing and how she came to write her book, with no intention of starting a religion. She was simply looking for the answer to good health. With a very abbreviated discussion, I showed her the book, read from the first page, and she readily purchased Science and Health telling me she wished she had come in earlier. Apparently she started wondering when she was sitting at the coffee shop and came in to ask who we were. She will be greatly blessed by the book.

Two airport policemen walked by when one suddenly turned back and came in to the Reading Room. He said that he always wondered about Christian Science and asked if I could speak to him about it. He was told that our religion is based on the words and works of Christ Jesus, and that we follow his teachings in healing. He was shown our textbook, and the tenets of Christian Science, and we discussed church services and periodicals. Since he was on duty he couldn’t stay too long, but he left with his questions answered, and took a periodical from our “Free Literature” basket on the way out the door.

A policeman came in and talked for about ten minutes. He had recently lost his aunt, another is in hospice, and a coworker died suddenly—all of which left him shaken. We had a wonderful talk about God’s continuing love, Christ Jesus’ proof of eternal life, and God’s care of his family. I welcomed him to come in again, and he said he would now that “he knows someone here.”

A wonderful young man from South Africa came in this morning and asked if this was a place you could come and just read. I said yes, but that we were also a bookstore who sold the writings of Mary Baker Eddy.

He asked what was the big book we had? I told him it was a dictionary. He went in to look. Then I was prompted to get up and show him our Bible reference library which is pretty good, albeit limited, and I said, you are welcome to read anything, but people come in mostly to read the Bible. Then he asked, “What is this book?” pointing to Science and Health. I explained that Mary Baker Eddy discovered how Jesus healed and that she became a wonderful healer, and one day this doctor who witnessed her treatment and immediate healing of his patient, told her she had to write a book. She checked her Scripture and her eyes went right to Isaiah 30:8 which says, “Now go write in a table and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, forever and ever.” She obediently wrote this marvelous book which is now the Christian Science textbook. He said he wanted to buy it but on his way back. I asked when, and he said February 22, at 8:30 AM. I said, “You will be through security before we open.” Then he readily purchased the hardback Sterling Edition, and told me that he had been in the US for 20 minutes and had already spent money.

I sensed a need, so I prayed that the Science and Health he had just purchased would give him many answers, and that God would provide all his needs and wants while here in America and his money would always be there for him. He thanked us profusely.

A wonderful lady came in the Reading Room while waiting for an arriving passenger. She was told a little of Christian Science and how it heals, and how Mary Baker Eddy had come to write and publish Science and Health. She stopped me and told me that one of her friends had been battling cancer and refused to see anyone. But they were good friends and she was led to go up and knock on the door, and was asked to come in. She went in to see that her friend indeed was getting better. Our visitor was told, “Christian Science will heal your friend! Would she be open to it?” I told her I would pray, but had to have her consent and willingness for Christian Science treatment.   She agreed to ask. Then she purchased two copies of Science and Health, one for her and one for her mother, who was also having some issues. May God bless her richly in her understanding of Christian Science healing!

Science and Health flew off the shelf today. Two young women came in who were in the performing arts industry on their way back to New York. They asked if I could explain this most interesting-looking store. I shared some of Christian Science with them, including how Mrs. Eddy came to write Science and Health and healed and taught with it. One had burning a question: “How can you get people to be receptive to it?” I explained that sometimes that is the hardest part, getting the people to part with the disease. I shared Jesus’ healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda who defined himself as “he who couldn’t get to the water before someone else got there first.” Jesus said, “Wilt thou be made whole?” And as soon as the man said yes, he was healed. She was told that if a person wants the freedom from whatever he or she sees as an undesirable condition, that you can and will help them through your prayers, and Christian Science will do the work. They readily purchased a copy.

Meanwhile, the young man who had been in the study room all morning must have listened to the explanation and purchased a copy for his parents for Christmas. I asked him if they would be receptive to it. He said he thought so because there is only one God.

While he was still in the study room, a gentleman came in who had been here in the United States for about a month. He is an engineer partnering with one of our companies in a solar energy plant for his country in Africa. I shared some of Christian Science with him and he was reluctant, but gave me his credit card. Then he said, “My Bible is old, and needs replacing.” I showed him our many Bibles and we had a new NIV for $13.00. And he was told that Science and Health would help him to understand the spiritual import of the Bible, any Bible, which was so important to understand. He readily purchased Science and Health.

A man came in and asked, “What is this place?” He was told it was a place to be quiet and pray, and to be close to God. He was told a little about Christian Science, and as he looked over our themed booklets, he looked at the one entitled Safety. I mentioned that he could read it in our study room, which he did. He came out and asked if the healings in the articles were true. I assured him they were. He said he lives in Virginia Beach, VA and attended church there but was searching for a deeper understanding of God. He was given some basic understanding and he purchased the booklet. He said that he would like to talk with someone about Christian Science at home. I gave him a free Journal and highlighted a practitioner from Williamsburg, VA, to contact when he got home. The man seemed receptive and left the Reading Room with an uplifted spirit.

A visitor came in seeking answers to a lot of questions, the first being, “What is Christian Science?” I explained a little of Christian Science and introduced him to Science and Health and its author, Mary Baker Eddy, of whom he had never heard.   He was shown how the book was an “ensouled” text like the Bible, in that it meets you where you are. He had questions about money and wealth and poverty, about direction, about visa renewals, employment. We worked on all of them, the biggest being the mental malpractice of telling ourselves what we do not have, which puts us in want, rather than praying with the expectation of receiving that for which we have prayed. I think he was helped because when he left, he thanked us profusely, and said he would come again. I believe he returned to Bismarck, ND with a renewed sense of direction. He did leave with our gift of a used Science & Health!

A couple came in asking “What is this place?” I had asked them to sit down as I explained a little of our church, showing them the tenets, and the Bible, and spoke of healings based on Jesus works. Both went to University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and they noted Mrs. Eddy’s relation to New England. They were shown healings in the Christian Science textbook, the Sentinel and the Journal. The man purchased a paperback Science and Health so he could “learn more!”

A woman came in looking for a Bible for her new granddaughter−“baby’s first Bible.” I showed her the board books we have. Then she came around the desk, and I showed her Bibles starting with the King James editions and even the NRSVs that are cheaper. She asked me which I thought was better. I told her, “Well, whenever I read another translation, I have to go back to the King James to see what God said.”   She agreed.   Then she said maybe I should get one for my daughter. Then as I pulled down a copy of Science and Health, I said, “Would she be interested in the spiritual interpretation which is where you really learn how to heal with it? I handed it to her and she said, “She would love it. This is the book I will buy! I am so glad I came in here!”

A woman came in who had had cancer and had an operation that was successful, but was praying because she was doing a lot of follow-ups. She was cancer free, but she said that an angel appeared and told her to “stand up and hear.” She began to listen and pray to be told what to do. Well, family and friends began to ask for prayerful help. She would pray fervently and effectually because people got healed. I told her about Mrs. Eddy and her search through the Scriptures and her healing from the fall on the ice, and how she came to be a great Christian healer and wrote her book about it. She readily purchased Science and Health, and said she would love to come back and see us when she is in the area.

A gentleman came into the Reading Room and asked to read the Bible and to specifically read the New International Version, which we do not have. But he said that he favored that version because it had footnotes which, for example, told him that on many occasions Jesus was actually quoting old testament verses when he answered the scholars’ questions. He asked me if I had read Ezekiel. I said yes, and that I had been reading it on Monday morning at the desk while I was marking books. Then I showed him our Parallel Bible with four versions and he read for awhile. Then I suggested as he was leaving that he purchase this book. I showed him Science and Health, and opened one for him and told him about the spiritual import of the Bible which every student of Bible should learn. He purchased the Science and Health.

A man came in and wanted to ask where in the Bible was the Lord’s Prayer? I showed him and he wrote the citation down. He recommended a book about the Bible for me called Walking the Bible in which the authors went to various geographical locations to see the sights. Then we talked a little more and I suggested he purchase Science and Health and see the spiritual interpretation of some of the Scriptures. I showed him the Lord’s Prayer. He readily purchased the book. He was told that it heals everything, especially something like cancer for which there is no good medical solution. He said that he was a cancer survivor and that his wife had it. I said, “Oh, you can heal it with this book. Let’ s heal it.” He said he would give it to her to read.

A woman came into the Reading Room to get some free literature having noticed our basket, and said she had heard of Christian Science because there was a Christian Science church near her house. She was shown the Christian Science textbook and how Mrs. Eddy had come to write the book and teach from it. Mary Baker Eddy’s students wanted to start a church, which led to the Reading Rooms that sell Christian Science literature. She readily purchased Science and Health, repeating several times, “$13?” She obviously recognized Science and Health truly is a treasure.

A man came in to ask what our Reading Room was all about. He was young and married with a young son. He said that he was unjustly accused of a crime by a person who was part of the crime; and he was sentenced to several years in jail. We discussed the importance of seeing man as reflecting qualities of honesty and integrity, and that it would be important for him to forgive his employer before a complete healing could take place. We had a Sentinel in the basket with the heading “Forgiveness,” which he was given. “Is this free?” he asked. With a warm smile I assured him that divine justice and blessings are in store for him.

A young man came in and asked about Christian Science. I told him a little of it, and he was shown the two accounts of creation in Genesis, and Mrs. Eddy’s experiences looking for good health which culminated in her healing career and writing her book. He said, “How much is that book?” $13. I pulled out the marble paperback of Science and Health and he pulled out the cash. Then he said, “You know I was sent down here looking for the Amoura Café which has been moved up to our concourse, so I came up here and God led me here. I have been learning more and more about how the world works, and now it is time to really study the Bible. I said, “This book will light the Bible up for you.” He was so grateful he came in.

A young man came into the Reading Room with his friend and wanted to know what this store was and what is Christian Science? I introduced him to Mary Baker Eddy and her amazing work, namely, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and told him of how Mrs. Eddy healed as Jesus did. He did purchase Science and Health.

A young man came in and asked what Christian Science is, and he was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy and the Christian Science textbook.   He asked me if I could heal. I told of him of several important healings I have had. I mentioned to him my son was always blaming God for all the disasters in the world, and the young man said, “Yes, what about that?” I tried to explain that someone who can heal, needs to bear witness to the Truth in order to still the waters or calm the storm.   He asked if I had ever done that, and I replied, “Yes, many times.” I even gave him a couple of examples. He readily purchased Science and Health.

A couple came in and wanted the best book we had in Spanish. We only had the Bible, Science and Health, and two booklets in Spanish. They selected the new Spanish translation of Science and Health from the window display so I opened the book and showed them the first sentence in the Preface and the first sentence in the first chapter on Prayer. She said, “We’ll take it.”

A young woman from Rwanda came in and wanted to know about Christian Science. She said she was Christian and she was told of Mrs. Eddy’s search through the Scriptures and how she had learned to heal the way Jesus did and had come to write a book on Christian healing. The woman loved it. When I showed her the book, particularly the first sentence in the chapter on Prayer, she immediately purchased the book, and a themed booklet on Pregnancy and Childbirth for a dear friend. I gave her a Christian Science Journal and she is going to attend the church in Rwanda, which is quite near to her residence.

A woman came in from New Jersey to support her brother who is having open-heart surgery. I sensed fear from her and assured her that the strength of God’s love is always in control and will be evident, not only for her brother but also for the physicians as well. “Ever-present Mind, God, encompasses all space and will be evident at the surgery,” I told her. I gave her two Sentinels, one entitled “Overcoming Fear,” and the other, “How to Pray.”

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Christian Science churches and individuals for their interest in and support of this Reading Room. For comments, questions, or to send a donation, please mail to:

Christian Science Reading Room Jointly Maintained

Harley Bennett, Treasurer, 23871 Willows Drive, #384, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

A man came in in a panic. He needed to print out an email in order to pick up his car.  He noted that someone in the airport had directed him to the Christian Science Reading Room.

In order to log into the the reading room computer, we enter the password, “Godislove.” The attendant reported that the man re-marked, “How beautiful the password is: Godislove.”  And the visitor left saying God is Love.

A woman from Tennessee came in this morning on her way home to Nashville after spending the weekend in San Francisco with friends. She had an interesting background. Her healthcare system is homeopathy and she has a degree in religion. She described her mom’s religion as hard-shell Baptist, which she did not practice, and took her children to various churches so they made their decisions when they grew up. She was introduced to Mary Baker Eddy’s discovery of Christian Science, her healing work, and the Christian Science textbook. She was also told about our practitioners who are available when Christian Scientists need help. She purchased our textbook that I felt she was being guided to buy. She also appreciated our gift of an older Christian Science Journal so she could see the list of practitioners and churches.

A man came in and wanted a wonderful book for his mother, in Portuguese. We had the new Science and Health translation on hand which we just got in a month or so ago, and he readily purchased it. He did not even ask for a brief introduction or explanation or anything. He wanted the best book, so that is what I sold him, in Portuguese! There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. (Ps. 19:3)

A young man came in from Pittsburgh on his first visit to San Francisco.   He had read something about Christian Science on the plane and wanted to know more. When he saw the Reading Room he came in and asked about Christian Science. He was introduced to Mrs. Eddy works and her discovery of Christian Science and her wonderful book. He readily purchased Science and Health, and thanked me so much for my explanation. I am so thrilled every time one of our textbooks goes out with a visitor because I know thought will be uplifted and healing the result.

Happy Independence Day! A woman came in to report that on her flight to San Francisco she had experienced some pain in her leg. By the time she was ready to land she was quite uncomfortable. She limped through the exit doors into the Plaza in Terminal 1 and saw our sign “Christian Science Reading Room” and was instantaneously healed! She came to thank us for being here. What a blessing!

A woman who calls regularly asked for some help. She needed someone to pray for her legs. She told me the condition was the result of abuse she had suffered as a child. We suggested she forgive the abuser and get a sense of peace about it because it no longer served her. She told me she had forgiven the abuser. Then it occurred that she might not know that she could no longer suffer from a condition of abuse if the forgiveness had been accomplished. She was told she could not be punished by abuse once the forgiveness was secure in her thought and she was texted the 3^rd tenet from Science and Health p. 497. “We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin [abuse] and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.“ She was shown that it was truly a divine precept. She texted me awhile later, “I think I feel the wind changing.” I thought about it, and felt it had too.

A woman came into the Reading Room asking, What is Christian Science? She was introduced to the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and this wonderful religion that she had no intention of starting when she set out on her search for good health. We began to talk about metaphysics. She asked several questions to which answers are found in Science and Health, particularly on evolution. And she asked about science and Christianity, which she said were often antithetical to each other. I told her that all physical sciences square up with Christian Science and that I often use the Christian Science textbook as a divine compass to judge the worthiness of the physical sciences. After all, earth and the stars are subject to God’s law. As it turns out, she and her husband are both tenured professors at UC Davis. We talked more and she purchased both Science and Health and a Christian Science Monitor.

An elderly gentleman came into the Reading Room and asked me if I had Bibles. He said, “I only read the King James!” He was shown three new ones, and he talked about the Bible and King James himself. Eventually, he was told a little about Christian Science without interruptions, as he was waiting for a flight and would have to leave soon. There was only time to show him the first sentence and the glossary. But when I read him the definition of “ears” he laughed out loud like he knew exactly what Mrs. Eddy meant. Also, he was told that after Mrs. Eddy’s three-year sojourn through the Scriptures she could heal anything. I gave him one example, and he asked, “Do you know why she could heal”? Mrs. Eddy could heal because she was anointed of God to do it and to teach it.” I said, “Yes, you are correct.” That told me he would read and absorb the book because he already understood Mrs. Eddy’s place in history and in Christianity.   “Out of the mouths of babes (newbies) He will perfect praise.”

When I detected a money shortage, I dug in the closet and found an old leather-bound Science and Health and made a gift of it. He said, “But I have no gift for you!” With a tear in his eye, he laughed and blessed me deeply and blessed our store!

A lovely man with a southern accent came in and asked me where the Delta passengers arrived. I pointed to the place where they come out. Then he began reading the window. I explained that that was our pastor, the Bible and the Christian Science textbook.

Briefly I told him how Mary Baker Eddy had had a healing and then searched the Scriptures and found the answers, and became a great Christian healer and teacher of healing. She was healing one day, and healed a lady of pneumonia while the doctor was in the room. He was so surprised he asked her how she did that. She explained how she prayed and how God took over and healed the patient. The doctor suggested she write a book. She opened her Bible to Isaiah 30:8 which states, “Now go write it before them in a table and note it in a book that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.” And she obediently wrote this wonderful book. I said, “This is the book.” I showed him the marble paperback copy. He said in his beautiful southern drawl, “I believe I’ll take one of those!”

A woman came in from Minneapolis who lives here and needed to charge her phone. It was so dead she had to use my cell phone to call her daughter’s boyfriend. It seemed her daughter had been taken to the hospital very ill, and she shared a little of the problem, While praying to know what to say, I read her a sentence or two from Science and Health. As the picture got more frightening, I said, “I have a book which will help you.”

When she got off the phone, she said, “Let me see your book.” I showed her the first page of the Preface to Science and Health and we read, “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.” She said, “I’ll take it!” and handed me her credit card. I know that the book will benefit her and her daughter. After all, Christian Science is, if anything, the Comforter.

A Christian Scientist from the Bay Area on her way to New Orleans for four months, came into see us. She told us she would like some wisdom on money if we had some. I told her, “You came to the right place!” I remembered that Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”   She was then counseled on how to stop malpracticing on herself by saying things like, “I am low on money,” or “How will I pay the bills?” or “I am broke, yada yada.” When we do that, mortal mind says, “OK whatever you say!” and it is done! Mortal mind makes us act so as to get rid of our money. When we stop saying, I am broke, we stop doing what mortal mind tells us to fulfill that little prophecy, and then our bank accounts fill up, and our wallets get fat. I speak with authority and from experience about this.

After she left the Reading Room attendant shared with me that when he was first married, he complained to another Christian Scientist that he was living “paycheck to paycheck.” His friend said, “Oh be grateful you are not going into the hole every month. Some people are.” The attendant took that to heart and became very grateful. Within several months, the new President Kennedy cut taxes by 10% that was an effective raise; he then got a 10% raise at work, and then he received a promotion that was another raise. Soon he and his wife were doing well and saving regularly and life was much more relaxed. God meets all our needs splendidly and abundantly!

A young man came in this evening. He was a Christian studying at Stanford, and was in some Christian groups. A little of Christian Science was shared and he loved it. He said he would look the book up on Amazon. He was shown the little marble paperback copy and the difference between the Kindle version where the marginal notes sort of stick out by themselves as one or two lines in the middle of the paragraph, and the print version where they are unobtrusive in the book text.   He was also shown the Glossary, the Key to the Scriptures chapters, and the Fruitage chapter.   He readily purchased Science and Health.

A young man came to the Reading Room this afternoon asking about the Parallel Bible. He said he would come back and buy it.   But then I asked him, “Are you interested in the spiritual interpretation of the Bible? May I show you another book about the Bible?” He agreed and I showed him Science and Health, and the Glossary and Key to the Scriptures. He readily purchased it. I said, “Do you need a receipt?” He said, “No, I am not bringing this back!”

A man came in and asked to read the Bible lesson with me. I said of course, and read with him from the marked books we keep in the study room. He then left. Later he came in and told the attendant that the reading of the lesson had healed him of a painful condition in his mouth. He said, “Poof, it was gone!” He never mentioned the condition, so no Christian Science treatment was given. The Christian Science Bible lesson/sermon blesses everyone who reads it!

A man came to the Reading Room and asked if we were connected to Mary Baker Eddy. The attendant said yes, and the man said he wanted to see everything Mrs. Eddy wrote. He said that he had read some articles by Walter White, who had told of the writings and the amazing healings of Mary Baker Eddy. He really wanted to read her works. He purchased both Prose Works and Science and Health.

A couple from Beijing and their daughter came to the United States. They had never been to the United States before. Their little girl was in the Reading Room for a good hour and read and looked at all the books we have for sale for children. She settled on, My Little Book About God, and went out and got her parents to come in and buy it for her. The girl’s parents could barely speak English but her mother said that the child spoke the best English in the family.

Two little girls, aged 12, came in and looked all around. They knew their Scriptures pretty well. They looked at all the children’s books and said, “What is the best book you have?” They were shown Science and Health. I then explained a little of Christian Science and how Mrs. Eddy came to write Science and Health and how the church was started. They said, let’s get Grandma. The one went to Grandma and came back with a credit card. She purchased the marble paperback edition. They understood the value of the book and stayed quite awhile asking questions, and told me that they would read the book to each other this week. I told them that they would heal with it. It has so many answers in it.

A gentleman came in and was curious about Scientology. I told him we were Christian Science and since he did not know anything about Scientology, I told him a little of Christian Science and how Mrs. Eddy came to write her book. He is a scientist and the word Science is what brought him in. He asked me why didn’t Mrs. Eddy use the physical sciences to find out what healed her? I told him because she had already eliminated the physical sciences, having experimented with materia medica, hygiene and nutrition for many years, having read all her husband’s medical books about it. I suggested he purchase Science and Health and read the chapters on Physiology and Science, Theology and Medicine.   He readily purchased the book.

A man came in today who somehow knew to come here and asked, “Can I talk to you? I need to talk to you about something.” I said, “How can I help?” He was getting badged (a process where one is approved for employment at the airport) and was having a hard time completing the badging process before he started work with one of the airlines the next week. So we blessed that whole process and just knew the matter was in God’s timing that is always timely! He came back several days later with his new badge gotten prior to starting work.

A man came into the Reading Room who was leaving San Francisco. He had been here almost two months. He was interested in Spanish Bibles, and was shown what we had. As he spoke, I pulled down a copy of the Spanish translation of Science and Health and began to speak to him of Mary Baker Eddy and her discovery of Christian healing and the founding of Christian Science. He was told that if he read this book, it would show him how Mrs. Eddy spiritually interpreted the Scriptures, and how he would discern the divine messages within the Scriptures.

He readily purchased a copy and then walked around the desk and said, “I have a big, big problem.” I said, “What is it?” He said, “I am gay.” I asked, “Why is that a problem?” He told me that he had been attending a Pentecostal church for 12 years and that the preacher told him that he was going to hell and that he had a devil! I said, “No, you don’t go to hell for being gay,” and I looked into his eyes and said, “And you definitely don’t have a demon.” He said that he really wanted to change and could not seem to do it. I told him, “Look—ask God to please bring you to the understanding of your wholly spiritual nature, and then to teach you whatever lesson you needed to learn from being gay. The Infinite can and will do this or anything you want, as long as it is in accord with divine law. “Let your requests be known to God in no uncertain terms, and He will answer your prayers.” And believe that you will receive that for which you ask. But in any case, be at peace with who you are and do not condemn yourself anymore, and do not be afraid of going to hell. You are a good man. “There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus!” He felt so relieved and I gave him a Christian Science Journal so that he could find one of the four or five churches in his city. I told him that no one would judge him there. We try to live by the Sermon on the Mount and the Golden Rule.

A woman came in whose grandmother had been a Christian Scientist. She remembered that when she was 3 or 4 years old, she was playing outside and her mother and her grandmother were sitting in the kitchen (studying the Christian Science Bible lesson as she later learned). She ran into the house crying that she had been stung by a bee on her foot. Her grandmother picked her up, held her foot, and told her, “Now that doesn’t hurt a bit does it?” The pain had instantly stopped, and she stammered, “No Grandma!” Then she went off to play. She never forgot the healing and now she wanted to know a little more about it. I showed her the two accounts of creation from Genesis, and told her a little of how Mary Baker Eddy came to discover Christian Science. I showed her the first sentence of Science and Health, which I call the trifecta of Christian healing.  I showed her the definition of God and how that heals.  She asked why Mrs. Eddy named it Christian Science. I told her that it is Christianity and that Christian healing is provable, testable and verifiable. Jesus said, “If ye do not believe me, believe the works.” I noticed she spoke somewhat like a Christian Scientist, saying things like “I could not accept that.” As it turns out she is a cancer survivor, and knows God has a purpose for her and it is being revealed to her. She is writing a book and starting to fill in her spiritual growth and development. I suggested she purchase Science and Health and she did. She was so grateful for our being here and for taking the time to speak to her so frankly about Christian Science.

A lovely young woman came in one evening and asked about Christian Science. She asked what books we sold and I immediately showed her a copy of Science and Health, and began to introduce her to Christian Science. I got as far as Mrs. Eddy’s healing and her book, when she said she would purchase the book. Then she asked what other books we had. I showed her the biographies, and everything we had, even the children’s books. Then she asked for a Russian Bible, which I showed her and which she purchased. I then showed her our Russian translation of Science and Health and she happily said, “Oh this is better for me!”   She purchased both books and I gave her a citation quarterly that is nearly finished. She was very interested in our Bible lessons. She inquired about a hotel shuttle, which I helped her with, and off she went to San Francisco.

I was in a hurry to leave by 4 pm, and at 3:57 pm a visitor came in. He asked about Christian Science and I explained a little of it to him, and how Mrs. Eddy came to her discovery and wrote her book. Also I explained about the publishing society and our bookstores and the Christian Science periodicals. He spied the themed booklet Healing, and purchased it and a copy of Science and Health. He said he was working on a problem that he did not think would work medically for treatment. He was so nice and thanked me profusely for the books and for explaining Christian Science. I left at 4:05 pm, on time.

We were visited by a woman who was surprised to see a Christian Science Reading Room at the airport. I told her that we were the only one, and have been here over 60 years. She told me that she was a trained Registered Nurse and was working towards her masters degree in nursing when she met the “love of my life,” a man who is a Christian Scientist. Through the months of her dating she began to see the value of the Christ in her life, and it has transformed her life.   She is no longer practicing medicine and is working on a transition from materia medica to Christian Science. She loves Christian Science and she married the love of her life over a year ago.

A wonderful young man from Virgin America came in and thanked us for being here. He had previously bought an RSV Bible from us, and a Science and Health.   Today he was interested in more Bibles.   He has most everything we carry, but when I showed him the parallel Bible—four Bible translations which he doesn’t have in one book—he happily purchased it. We talked of many passages in the Bible, particularly one from Ruth, which I explained provided a wonderful healing for a Christian Scientist in Texas. The verse was, “There is a kinsman nearer than I,” which is the comment by Boaz when he sought to marry Ruth. He had to get this kinsman of her late husband to renounce his right to marry Ruth. According to the testimony, which was in a lecture I once heard by Myrtle Smith, CSB, this Christian Scientist was Committee on Publication for Texas and was on a business trip when his little 5-year-old son became sick with a fever. His wife called him at the venue, and she was very fearful and doubtful. He was prepared to come right home, but he put down the phone and opened his Bible to that passage in Ruth, which told him that the kinsman was God, Father, Mother, Giver of all life and health. And he knew it was OK to be where he was. He drove straight home after the meeting (which was nearly a day’s drive) and when he arrived, his wife met him in the driveway with the child, fully recovered. My point to the visitor was that all Scripture is profitable. That particular verse has no Christian metaphysics attached to it, yet it met that dad’s need to release the child to God, and brought about his son’s recovery. The visitor loved it.

He also purchased My Little Book About God, which is a children’s book about the seven synonyms for God.

A young man came in about 9:30 pm, and looked around and saw one of our CDs from Sentinel Radio called “Secure Finances: putting God first.” He asked if he could purchase it. I said of course, and he did. He thanked me very much, and left. Not five minutes later, another young man came in and asked if I had that same CD I had just sold the other young man. I looked and we did not have it. He said, “Do you have anything like that?” I went into the study room and found one called “Looking for Satisfaction” in the CD listening corner. I read down the contents and said, “Here is one on gambling addiction healed.” Even though that particular CD had a broken jewel case, he said “I’ll take it.” I was trying to figure how to charge him half price when he said, “Oh no, I will pay the full price. I don’t care about the case.” I am so glad we had it.

We were visited by a young man who said he had been here several years ago. He looked familiar to me and I asked him if he had spoken to me, and he said he thought so. At this point, he was going into the Air Force as a chaplain, and had just met with a group of chaplains. As it turned out, one chaplain whom he had met, a Christian Science chaplain, inspired him greatly. Also he told me that he had a somewhat famous elder in his church whose son went to Stanford and is now a professor at Harvard and is writing a scholarly treatise on Mary Baker Eddy. The Mother Church has given him special access to the Mary Baker Eddy Library for research on this book, and he (the elder’s son) is a very big admirer of Mary Baker Eddy.

Today our visitor wanted to know how we do faith healing and how we handle sickness and health and doctors, and all those questions. I lovingly showed him the first sentence of Science and Health. I then showed him the tenets, particularly the first and second. Then I explained the spiritual creation in Genesis 1, and the flesh story in Genesis 2 and how these two accounts make all of Jesus’ sayings very understandable. I encouraged him to buy the Christian Science textbook, which he readily did.  Then he asked, “How would I as a chaplain help a Christian Scientist on the battlefield or in a hospital if I needed to help him? I told him to go to page 16-17 and pray the Lord’s Prayer with him, with its spiritual interpretation. We went through it, and he was blown away. I said this is how we read it in church. I gave him a February full text and showed him our Bible lesson sermons, and I explained about the Bible Lesson Committee, and how this sermon is read all over the world each week.

He asked about a church hierarchy. I said, No, Every branch church has a Board of Trustees, which has a three-year term with alternating expiration dates. Members rotate on and off. The membership elects two every year. I explained about our churches and he is planning to attend one of our churches in Salt Lake City where he lives. I also gave him a Journal with the list of churches, a Sentinel, and a Christian Science Monitor. He was really impressed with our publishing society.

A woman from Maui came in. She works for United so she had a good long wait until 10 pm when her flight leaves. She asked me if we had any really old Bibles. She was looking for something but wasn’t sure what. I told her of the collection the Christian Science Publishing Society offers, some of which are always on display. I began to think she was looking for a higher understanding of the Bible. So I invited her to sit down and let me tell her a little of Mrs. Eddy and her discovery.

After she interrupted me several times to ask questions, and I would answer with Bible quotations, which she was carefully highlighting in her Bible. I pulled Science and Health off the shelf and handed it to her, and said, “This is the book you came in to buy. It will show you how to spiritually interpret Scripture and how the Bible and Science and Health have every answer to every problem you could encounter, usually in several places.” She purchased Science and Health and will be back to see us on her many trips through San Francisco. She works for United and frequently comes through here. Interestingly, United is located in Terminal 3 which is halfway around the airport from us. So she was definitely led to come into the Reading Room.

A young man came in and stayed for a long time. I talked to him about Mrs. Eddy and her discovery of how Jesus healed and how she came to write Science and Health.   He had so many questions, all of which I happily answered; many answers came from my experience with that topic, but I told him that all Christian Scientists are different and while we all love and practice Christian Science, we may think very differently on a variety of topics. He purchased a Christian Science textbook.

He was told of a healing in Christian Science of bipolar disorder (what used to be called manic depressive illness) and he told me that he was working on a mild case of that. In fact, he cancelled his next appointment to continue our conversation; and I offered to pray for him and told him that it can be healed. I showed him how to calm down by relaxing. It is so important many times to be quiet. “Be still and know that I am God.” He told me that God had brought him right to where he had to be. He is a very sensitive young man and will benefit greatly from some understanding of Christian Science and how God heals man. He felt much better when he left.

We had a visitor tonight whom we saved. He locked himself out of his truck in the red zone, the “no parking, no stopping, no leaving your car unattended” zone. He asked to borrow a screwdriver. I lent him the Phillips and the flat and he returned them both in less than 5 minutes and reported a successful outcome, and then thanked us and blessed us! I returned the blessings. God sends us everyone that comes in.

A woman came in from Sweden and wanted to know about Christian Science. She was a healer and was enroute to or from a seminar. I introduced her to Mrs. Eddy and her discovery of Christian Science and her wonderful book. Then I read her the first sentence of Science and Health which is, “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, — a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love.” She exclaimed, “That’s it!” And she purchased a copy. She will heal with it and help many people.

A young man came into the Reading Room and said he worked for the airline and wanted a Bible he could take with him, a small one. He was shown what we had especially the new pocket Sterling Edition. But he wanted a Revised Standard Version, which I showed him and which he agreed to purchase.   I then asked him if he was interested in the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures and showed him the glossary in our textbook, Science and Health. He said, “I can see you are really excited for me to see this book.” I have to tell you, it isn’t every day someone is that eager to read and learn the Scriptures. He purchased both Science and Health and the Bible.

A young nine-year-old boy from Singapore came in and asked what we had, and he said he was going to tell his mom where he was. He came back in about two minutes with his six-year-old little sister. He wanted to read the Bible. His little sister took four of the books to read: Moses; Noah’s Ark; Joseph and His Brothers; and the Story of Jesus. They both sat quietly in the study room and read for about an hour. Two other toddlers sat outside with their mom admiring the bears in the window.

A young woman came in from Indianapolis and wanted to read. She began reading out of our marked books. When the attendant went in to check on her, she asked, “I really like what I am reading but I don’t understand it all. Do you have churches? Do you have a church in Indianapolis?” The attendant provided a free Christian Science Journal, and showed her the directories in the back. He also gave her some free literature. She walked out very happy.

A gentleman came in who spoke English, asking if we had anything in Arabic. He was thrilled to discover we had the Bible in Arabic.

A visitor called from another jointly maintained reading room to ask about salary levels. As it turned out that reading room is going through a major renovation and relocation, not without its challenges. Since we just went through that, I was able to counsel her that the whole construction and relocation project, every single job, every task, every laborer, every tool, every permit, every inspection is governed by God. And the smallest things are demonstrated as the construction progresses, and we are sometimes able to help the construction crews metaphysically with the work, as well as apply Christian Science to the many processes of building and furnishing and occupying new space. As the conversation unfolded, I think I helped both of our Reading Rooms. God blesses our Reading Rooms so richly.

We had not sold a book in two weeks. I had a visitor a few days previous who was complaining how slow his airline was, and I agreed that our little book store had been slow. When I came in Saturday afternoon, I noticed no sales on the sales sheet and mentioned this to the attendant who said, “That ends today!”

Sure enough a young man came in on his way to Amsterdam, who was waiting for a friend to join him, and asked about Christian Science.  He was told of of Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of Christian Science, and shown the first page of Science and Health which states “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, — a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love.” (S&H 1:1) With that, he purchased Science and Health.

I began thinking about the mental “self-justification” of “slowness of business” which I had allowed unwittingly into my thinking. Mrs. Eddy cautions us that “self-will, self-justification and self-love are more opaque than a solid body.” I had to wake myself up for the Reading Room as well as my own personal experience. I snapped right out of it when the attendant said, “That ends today!” God bless us everyone!