When I became a Christian Science nurse, I learned that applying the rules of the Manual of The Mother Church to my daily life helped me bring peace to those I cared for. I learned that the Manual, which some might consider just a small book to govern a church, is really something much bigger: It is a resource and guide for healing.
The By-Laws in the Manual can be relied upon because they keep the practice of Christian Science pure and free from human opinion and personality. They have guided me and helped me as to how to “watch” with patients during moments of fear and doubt that might try to creep into thought.
For example, one By-Law says that Christian Science nurses shall give “proper care” in a sick room based on “practical wisdom” (p. 49). To me, this meant that in order to apply practical wisdom and proper care, I needed to understand what might be influencing my thought and decisions. Another Manual By-Law, “A Rule for Motives and Acts,” (p. 40) was a great guide for watching my thought.
