Upon leaving my office one afternoon, I was suddenly stricken with extreme pains in my back. By the time I arrived home it was almost impossible for me to get out of the car. I asked my daughter to call for the help of a Christian Science practitioner. As I felt overcome with fear, he immediately began to pray for me. My daughter sang hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal. This brought about a quiet awareness of God's power and presence, but I was unable to move a muscle without crying out in anguish.
During this healing process the practitioner prayed diligently. He told me to work with the Concordance to Mrs. Eddy's writings to learn more of what she says about fear, muscles, and inflammation. He also referred me to this passage in the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (p. 454): "Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must 'have her perfect work.'"
I read and studied the textbook and our Leader's other writings every waking hour. Each day there were different challenges to be overcome.
