One evening, at a branch church business meeting, it was emphasized that our area had no advertising representative for The Christian Science Monitor. The position had been vacant for some time. The member who spoke ended by saying, "Someone in our membership is very capable of filling this need." After the meeting, I found myself walking into the clerk's office to pick up the application!
Thus began eight years of offering our community the great rewards of advertising in this fine newspaper. There were also opportunities to share with the church membership the importance of patronizing the advertisers. Very fine, active church members supported me in this work, and the activity brought an influx of regular ads. None of the work was accomplished without a great deal of prayer before I set out to contact the places of business. Sometimes lovely healings occurred in the advertisers' offices. My daily prayer became, "Father, where Thine own children are, /I love to be" (Poems, p. 13). Serving The Mother Church in such a way made me realize my need for Christian Science class instruction, a step that led to even greater opportunities to serve God and my fellowmen. And then I felt, in the words from the same poem by Mrs. Eddy:
My prayer, some daily good to do
To Thine, for Thee;
An offering pure of Love, whereto
God leadeth me.
Recently I reread a Bible story that reminded me of a healing I had several years ago. Chapter 20 of II Chronicles refers to the impending attack by the children of Moab, Ammon, and others against Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Jehoshaphat sought the Lord, who assured him (v. 15), "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's." Subsequent verses showed that something more was required of Jehoshaphat and his people (vv. 17, 20): "Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you .... Believe in the Lord your God . . .; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." Jehoshaphat then appointed singers to sing and praise the Lord, and the victory was theirs.
Each of these biblical requirements of reliance on God, and similar passages found in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, became for me a rock on which to stand. This was during ten days of excruciating internal pain. I was unable to sleep, took little nourishment, and was uncomfortable in any position. A Christian Science practitioner prayed for me. At times I felt very much in the battle, but I persisted in standing firm with unwavering faith and trust in God. I often declared my true identity as God's reflection and refuted the lie that I could be a suffering mortal. As demands were made on King Jehoshaphat in order that he might see a victory, so I too was called upon to be obedient and expectant of good. Mrs. Eddy instructs us (Science and Health, p. 264), "We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being." In view of this, it never occurred to me to be anywhere but in my proper place for each church service and Wednesday testimony meeting, as well as at the other scheduled church activities.
The second Sunday service I attended during the ten-day period seemed unusually inspiring, as though every word was meant for me! After the service I was still in pain, but I assured my husband that we would go to brunch, as was our custom on Sunday. After I had given my order to the waitress, the pain suddenly left, and it has never returned. My healing was complete! The enemy— mortal belief parading as disease—had been wiped out by divine Truth, and I could feel a peace illustrated by this verse (II Chron. 20:30): "So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about."
My gratitude to God is limitless for my Christian Science teacher, who helped establish me firmly in an understanding of infinite Truth; for my devoted husband and the close church members who were aware of the physical problem; and especially for our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who selflessly provided avenues for our spiritual growth. Even though I have served church in many capacities, it's a joy to continue serving, thereby forwarding the precious Cause of Christian Science.
Seattle, Washington
