Before a recent Wednesday evening testimony meeting at my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, I felt the urge to share a healing. As I sat in church, two passages included in the readings from Science Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy stood out: “The scientific government of the body must be attained through the divine Mind. It is impossible to gain control over the body in any other way. On this fundamental point, timid conservatism is absolutely inadmissible” (p. 167). Mrs. Eddy also writes: “Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God’s government” (p. 393).
The two passages seemed connected: If you engage in “timid conservatism,” you’re not being firm in the Science of true being. These two concepts exemplified for me the stand I took many years ago that led to a significant healing—one I had never spoken about and had almost forgotten. And on this Wednesday, I stood and gave gratitude for it.
I awoke early one morning, tossing and turning with an aggressive and unsightly skin condition. On top of that, it was Sunday and I was First Reader at my church. I didn’t feel ill, but I was uncomfortable and didn’t look presentable. My desire to be at my post in church helped me pray more earnestly for a quick healing.
I began by abiding by the statement “Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God’s government” (Science and Health, p. 393). Taking a radical position mentally for Truth changed things. I realized that, in fact, God was governing me right at that moment, because I was God’s harmonious expression, so there could be no disease. And I held to that as the only truth about me. The symptoms, so impressive a short time before, began to fade away. As I continued firmly relying on God’s continuous, ever-present government of my entire being, rather than on material appearances, I prepared for church that Sunday morning as usual. The result was that instead of being caught up in the drama and fear, I was completely healed of the condition and able to attend church to carry out my duties as Reader without interruption.
Although my gratitude at the time was for the immediate physical healing, the lasting lesson today is remembering how practically the ideas in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, can meet an immediate need, no matter what the situation is. And I appreciate that the Wednesday testimony meeting prompted me to recall and share this healing.
Mary Baker Eddy notes that testimonies of healing are “highly important” (Manual of The Mother Church, p. 47). Sharing healings, remembering when we acted boldly according to Mind’s direction, took courage in the presence of God when the situation seemed frightening, were undeterred in relying on the truth of our present perfection, gives us renewed courage to go forward and do “greater works” (John 14:12). We can all heed Mrs. Eddy’s encouragement to share our demonstrations. The world needs news of our good works!
