Christian Science teaches that God constantly guides and governs man, His spiritual offspring. My life is filled with evidence that this is true, and I am deeply grateful. I have never failed to find an answer to my problems when I have turned to divine Truth.
I was told in the Christian Science Sunday School, and also while I was having class instruction, that the truths I was learning would surely come to me when I needed them. At one time I experienced so constant a pain that I felt I could not endure it much longer. During the moments when I could think clearly, I would review what is true of man; yet the pain would return worse than ever.
Then at a point when I was tempted to give up completely, the substance of the following statement came to me (Ezek. 18: 32): "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." My desire was to glorify God. I saw that to cease my fight to retain consciousness would be to give up and to accept death as real. Therefore I must not accept in any degree the suggestion that God is not Life, completely sustaining His idea, man.
What I understood from the above Bible statement met my need. The pain soon disappeared and did not return. From this experience I have learned that man, God's idea, does not and cannot succumb to error; he is subject only to God's law of eternal good. The experience has faded, as a dream must fade; but the spiritual fact I learned shines as a lamp unto my feet.
One summer I was afflicted with a back ailment. After I had been bending for any length of time, my back became painful, and I was not able to stand up completely straight again for hours. Then one morning I read an article in a copy of The Christian Science Journal which reminded me that man, God's idea, is spiritually innocent because God is innocent. Later that same day, while cleaning the house, I bent over and then fell to the floor, unable to move. Since my understanding of Christian Science had helped me in many difficulties, I was not afraid. I recalled the article I had read earlier and rejoiced in knowing that I, as actually God's very expression, am indeed pure and innocent of evil.
I spent a few moments in joyous reflection on truths such as this, and then I was able to get up and continue my work. A few hours later I realized I was able to sit in complete comfort and to stand normally straight for the first time in weeks. I had no more difficulty with my back.
On pages 16 and 17 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy gives the spiritual interpretation of the Lord's Prayer. When I taught art in the public schools, the harmonious relationships I had with pupils and teachers were largely the result of an understanding of this section of it:
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors.
And Love is reflected in love."
Applying what I knew about true creative ability, I was helped to solve problems in the teaching of art. By properly identifying myself as man, an idea of Mind—which Christian Science teaches he is—I gained inspiration for approaches and ideas in teaching. Now I turn to divine Mind for help in rearing my two young daughters. The right words have come as they came in my teaching experience, when I needed them, even though a moment before I had not known what I was going to say.
Jesus said (Matt. 6:33), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you." Through such seeking I was healed in a short time of warts on each finger and both palms, and I was also healed of a skin disease.
My gratitude is unending for Christ Jesus and Mrs. Eddy, who shared their great spiritual understanding with mankind.— Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
