It is with great joy that I share the following healing. The seeds of truth that ultimately brought about this wonderful change were sown during my final year as a pupil in the Christian Science Sunday School. At that time I was extremely shy and felt very uncomfortable around most people. One Sunday I had the opportunity to speak about this problem with my Sunday School teacher. We turned to Christ Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and worked specifically with verses 14-16 in Chapter 5: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." I remember that at the time I sensed the importance of the words and felt great comfort in them. It was not until much later, however, that I realized an understanding of these spiritual truths would heal me permanently of shyness.
Over the next few years, as I continued my study of Christian Science, I became increasingly grateful for it because it shows us how to conquer the lies of sin, sickness, and death. I found myself wanting to share the truth with others and to express more of the spiritual qualities. Doing this, I realized, was letting my light shine. I was on the journey from a matter-based sense of self to the full recognition of my spiritual identity as a reflection of the one God. Those words in the Sermon on the Mount, I knew, described my only true occupation, and I began to see that this occupation brings great joy and satisfaction.
I also perceived that shyness was a mode of error, or mortal mind, which would hide one's light (one's true spiritual nature) under a bushel. So, instead of attempting to make mortal selfhood more comfortable, I learned to turn consistently to God. Being receptive to His guidance allowed me to help others, thereby giving "light unto all that are in the house." It was so very freeing to think less and less of myself.
