In his epistle to the Hebrews, Paul describes, in beautiful symbolism, what it means to be a Christian. Part of that description reads, "Ye are come unto ... an innumerable company of angels."
Looking back over twenty-three years of studying to be a Christian Scientist, I recognize and gratefully acknowledge the countless angel messages that have been guiding and guarding my progress and healing me of many troubles. Sometimes the angel voice was a remembered passage of Scripture or a sentence out of a Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly. Sometimes it seemed to be a word spoken in consciousness in instantaneous answer to prayer.
One such experience came to me when I seemed to be in great pain. A loving practitioner had been helping me to overcome these violent attacks, but they persistently returned. I prayed to know how I could be healed. The answer came in one word, "Obedience." I pondered the meaning of the word, and many illuminating ideas came. I realized that reflection means instantaneous obedience; that God's image and likeness never disobeys. I had just put in my application to be a member of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and was studying the Church Manual by Mary Baker Eddy. I found a rule (Art. VIII, Sect. 14) regarding subscribing for the literature. I had been purchasing The Christian Science Journal and the Christian Science Sentinel in the Reading Room. I now, however, immediately subscribed for these periodicals, also for The Christian Science Monitor, and it was while reading the religious article in the Monitor that I was completely healed of the attacks of pain. One sentence stood out in my memory: "You are not under medical law or personal condemnation." I was healed of obeying personal opinion. This took place over fifteen years ago and has been permanent.
