A Christian Scientist described how he dealt with error, or false belief, by saying, "When I treat error, I treat it rough!" This is often necessary if the material senses are to give up their testimony. Mrs. Eddy writes that a certain magistrate is believed to have recorded this comment on Jesus: "His rebuke is fearful." And she adds, "The strong language of our Master confirms this description."1 In another place she writes, "If it becomes necessary to startle mortal mind to break its dream of suffering, vehemently tell your patient that he must awake."2
For over two years I served in the Navy on a corvette. The tempestuous seas of the North Atlantic tossed this vessel about like a cork, and I suffered from chronic seasickness. Although I could have requested that I be drafted ashore, I knew the difficulty could be worked out in Christian Science, and I had help from a practitioner.
One day, after several months of misery, as the weather raged and the ship plunged up and down, I was inspired to turn on the error with great vehemence. Several times I practically shouted out loud, "Right where this false belief seems to be, there is only God, good, filling all space!" I felt as if a cloud had been lifted from me, and light appeared. I was healed. From that time on, I enjoyed being at sea, even during severe storms.
