In my homeland, nurses are popularly nicknamed "angels." A true Christian Science nurse would also surely be considered "Godsent" by those whom he or she serves. But Christian Science nurses must also be receptive to "angels"—that is, they must listen for spiritual intuitions, or the thoughts of God. And the nurse needs to entertain such thoughts while serving, while preparing for work, and, indeed, after coming off duty.
Science and Health describes the complementary natures of two angels mentioned in the Bible. Mrs. Eddy states regarding the first: "Michael's characteristic is spiritual strength. He leads the hosts of heaven against the power of sin, Satan, and fights the holy wars." Science and Health, p. 566. The nurse needs spiritual strength, and this is demonstrated through maintaining a mental altitude of spiritual alertness and Truth-founded courage, for the nurse cannot afford to be subdued by timidity.
Of the other angel, the Christian Science textbook says: "Gabriel has the more quiet task of imparting a sense of the ever-presence of ministering Love." Ibid., p. 567. This is the tenderness that surely undergirds a nurse's efforts to live up to the exacting demands in Science and Health: "The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith,—receptive to Truth and Love." Ibid., p. 395. Thus, while tenderly ministering to the practical needs of the patient, the metaphysical requirement is for the nurse to stand firm in thought that nothing less than the absolute good of God's ever-present perfection is truly going on.
