At one point a recurring illness caused me great distress, and I prayed to overcome it. The condition seemed to follow a course and lasted several hours. Finally, one evening when the initial symptoms reappeared, I felt I simply couldn't go through that again, and I knew intuitively that it was right for me to do the healing work on my own. I saw it was important, however, that the Christian Science treatment be quick and decisive.
Always before, pain had been so pronounced that within moments I couldn't think clearly enough to handle my own case, and so I had asked for assistance from a Christian Science practitioner. But this time, having recently been more diligent in my study and practice of Christian Science I felt ready for the challenge.
Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy states (p. 393): "Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good." This I did. Though the pain was extreme, I vowed not to let it maintain control of my thinking. Rising in rebellion against the pain, I grasped instantly the first spiritual truth that came to thought—that man is God's image—and worked with it. I refused to let up or to allow myself to yield to the pain. Then other truths came to mind, and I continued pondering each one. I knew I was not working to heal a physical body but to spiritualize my consciousness.
At first I felt far away from God, and the only spiritual truths that came to me seemed vague and not particularly relevant. But I understood that since they were spiritually true, God must be their source. Consequently, they were proofs of His presence and omnipotent power with me. I saw, too, that God's thoughts could never be vague.
Then clearly the words came as a voice speaking, "Be still," and I felt God's presence so strongly that I knew with great inspiration that He was right there with me and would continue to give me each thought I needed for healing. I now realized that I had been in constant motion physically. While I saw that this was a mesmeric concession to the difficulty, it seemed impossible to be still with so much discomfort. But instantly came the angel thought "It needs to be done, and God will give you the strength to do it."
Great effort was required to stop moving about. Yet with only a few moments of complete stillness, I suddenly felt the pain lessen just enough to make the stillness tolerable. I continued working with whatever thoughts came, still refusing to let up even for a moment. Then, like a voice speaking, these words from Science and Health came (p. 14): "Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual,—neither in nor of matter,—and the body will then utter no complaints. If suffering from a belief in sickness, you will find yourself suddenly well."
I was tempted to believe that I already knew that "Life and intelligence are purely spiritual" yet it hadn't healed me of this illness. But swiftly came this thought: "Do you believe that the teaching of Christian Science is true, here and now, or is this statement a portion that you don't accept? The statement says that consciousness of this specific truth for a single moment will heal you." I realized I needed to be more conscious of this truth.
So, phrase by phrase, I went thoughtfully through Mrs. Eddy's statement "Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual,—neither in nor of matter . . . ." After a time I saw clearly why Mrs. Eddy could be so certain that one moment of the consciousness of the truth she had stated would heal instantly. I also saw that while the pain had claimed to be holding my attention like a magnet, that hold had now been broken.
Mrs. Eddy defines all error as animal magnetism. What accuracy of definition! Error is opposed to the nature of Spirit, and it claims to attract and hold one's thought. What insight she had into this seeming attraction and its powerlessness. Error is powerless because it is not derived from God, the source of all power.
I saw that it was the power of God, not human will, that had broken for me the illusion of being attracted and held by error. As I had kept thought filled with the spiritual fact I was working with, all sense of pain had suddenly vanished. The healing was instantaneous and complete. In the many years since, the illness has not recurred.
For this healing and many others, and for the deep contentment and serenity that I have had in my life, I am grateful. But most of all I am grateful that Christian Science is not just a method of harmonizing human affairs. It is the truth that proves mortality to be unreal, and it lifts thought to the recognition of spiritual reality. Our own lives can bear witness to the truth of spiritual being and help to light the way for all mankind.
Boston, Massachusetts
