Brian's Blog - From the CEO

Over the past 18 years, I’ve participated in multiple discussions about “vision” in organizations. And, I’ve accumulated a lot of documents regarding vision in all its aspects and meaning. Some are compilations of thoughts and words from various folks. One of those collected pieces that pertains to Wide Horizon is as follows:

We envision Wide Horizon as providing a peaceful place and harmonious atmosphere, wherein the ministry of Christian Science nursing is available to every sincere seeker of Truth.

We envision Christian Science nursing’s metaphysically based care be given to those who desire to make daily spiritual progress toward a full healing and recovery through complete reliance upon Christian Science. 

We envision that the collective daily prayers of every one of our guests, family members, friends, practitioners, staff, board members, and volunteers will have an expectation of healing, and that this expectation will be realized in daily experience for all doing this good work. 

We envision, in accord with the words on the cover of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, we shall witness daily proofs that Christian Science can “Cleanse the Lepers, Heal the Sick, Raise the Dead, Cast out Demons.” 

We envision these blessings of God’s presence and power – of divine Love’s grace and healing touch – are the light on the hill which will draw all who are seeking a fuller understanding of and trust in God.

We have been inspired by Mrs. Eddy’s definition of CHURCH (Science and Health, p. 583):

“The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.”

Thus, we envision Wide Horizon to continue in its active practice of the Science which elevates and rouses individual and collective thought as well as the thought of our community and of those we serve “…to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.”   We are committed to this spiritual concept of Church, and this commitment has been made by the dedicated Christian Science nurses, the administrative staff, and Board of Directors.

Wide Horizon’s purpose and mission is designed to help meet the human needs of many dedicated Christian Scientists in a large geographic area of the western United States.  Therefore, our vision is that Wide Horizon will actively provide Christian Science nursing services in support of Christian scientific spiritual healing as long as it is needed.

We envision, we desire to see Wide Horizon as a beacon set on a hill which shines the light of Christ for all mankind.

D. Brian Boettiger

Last week’s blog on “Love” led me again to focus on “compassion” and the words and works of Christ Jesus. The Gospels repeatedly indicate that Jesus “moved with compassion toward them” – towards those he fed, preached to, taught, restored and healed. This is holy work. All mankind can join and move in this work. Moving toward other human beings with compassion is true Christianity.

A poem by Louisa Mary Coade from the Christian Science Sentinel (March 28, 1936) captures an essential aspect of this compassion which blesses human activity and interaction.

True Compassion
By Louisa Mary Coade

Wrap around thy brother the mantle of compassion;
See him pure and holy as thou thyself wouldst be;
By the Golden Rule of love the Master taught us, fashion
All thy thought and speech and acts until thou set him free.

The Gospels clearly show Jesus Christ loved God and his fellow man. His love, his compassion was greater than any hatred, any iniquity. This love healed. And, clearly centuries after Jesus walked on earth, I believe the world continues to hunger and thirst for such compassion and love for all mankind. True compassion and love are so vital to healing of sin and sickness, to being truly affectionate and empathetic one to another.

Mary Baker Eddy, the discover of Christian Science, wrote, “Let us open our affections to the Principle that moves all in harmony—from the falling of a sparrow to the rolling of a world” (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 174).

When I think of our beloved country and beautiful planet, I have mentally struggled at times to feel love and peace will prevail. Yet I know the desire for and practice of love does make a difference. So, in my small role as I strive to lead the organization of Wide Horizon with active compassion, I do witness how individual and collective prayer and compassion supports the work of Christian Science nursing. I see Wide Horizon as a spiritual house and workplace – one acknowledges and expresses compassion and understanding, harmony and health, renewal and restoration, well-being and wholeness, and so on. Thus, dear readers of Wide Horizon’s field and community, our good works here can be fully appreciated and valued by each of us as we truly value and support the activity of Christian Science nursing. In fact, the more each of us moves with true compassion towards all mankind, dispelling darkness in the light of Christ, the more I am convinced love and peace will prevail.

D. Brian Boettiger

In an article titled “All Sufficiency in All Things” by Elizabeth Glass Barlow, the author begins:

“Christian Science teaches that true abundance characterizes the universal, indivisible ever-presence God, good. Such abundance is spiritual…. Because of its inexhaustible nature it can be neither partitioned nor consumed. This scientific concept of abundance is of practical value today, for supply and its satisfactory distribution are challenges which face mankind.” (The Christian Science Journal, March 1951, Vol. 69, No. 3, pp. 125-127.)

It seems to me that students of Christian Science, including those who serve in Christian Science nursing organizations, can be working in and out from the present in Science, acknowledging the ever-presence of God, good. One key aspect of working in Science is to yield to the Infinite – to know divine Love and embrace the light of Christ. Then one may know abundance as a demonstrable spiritual law, ever-present, ever-active for all mankind.

Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, directs students to mentally yield to Spirit, God, allowing Love to lead. The Scriptures show this quality of yielding as paramount – in protection, provision, physical healing. This includes always turning to God, Spirit, as the Source, no matter what appears to be the circumstances. Therefore, we learn that students of Science must yield to divine Mind, God, in order to see abundance, to endure, to progress, to be healed.

At the beginning of her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mrs. Eddy wrote, “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings” (p. vii).

To me, this statement fits perfectly with Christ Jesus’ directive, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” (Gospel of John 21:6)

I’ve pondered and held onto these emphatic statements (and promises) for years in my daily work at Wide Horizon. Each one has helped immensely. So, let us together, whomever and wherever you are, cast our proverbial nets on the right side of thought and action, lean on the sustaining infinite and accept that today is abundantly filled with blessings!

D. Brian Boettiger