The Bible Counsels Us, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Phil. 2:5. The Mind that was expressed in Jesus' character, wisdom, and healings is God, who is both infinite Love and infinite intelligence. To the degree that we express this Mind, our consciousness is truly Christly. We are more accepting of others, more loving, more forgiving of ourself and others, and we're better able to see spiritual perfection where mortal thought sees imperfection. An individual who expresses such Christly consciousness is compassionate toward the plight of others but understands that inharmonious conditions can be completely dissolved through prayer.
God is both infinite Love and infinite intelligence.
During my years of experience in the education field, I learned that effective healing comes by understanding what is true of Mind and its expression, or creation, rather than by delving into material, psychological concepts. An instantaneous healing that occurred while I was taking a graduate course at a nearby university vividly illustrated the effect of letting more of the divine Mind permeate one's consciousness. I had just taken an examination and was condemning myself for what I thought was my poor performance. I quickly became very ill with flu-like symptoms. Before collapsing on my bed, I called a Christian Science practitioner to pray with me. Within minutes I was completely free and able to carry on with my normal activities.
What was most meaningful to me about this experience was that the practitioner and I didn't have a lengthy conversation in which the practitioner attempted to humanly counsel me through my feelings of inadequacy, which had led to my physical problem. To do this would have been to accept the underlying belief in the reality of a material, discordant mind separate from God. Instead, we both prayed to know that I am God's spiritual idea, who expresses the one Mind, and that this expression cannot be interrupted.
As a Special educator in the public school system, I had many opportunities to look beyond what my eyes saw regarding a child or a situation. In meetings, I would listen to how other professionals described a student's problem and would try to understand the professional's point of view. But I would also pray to affirm and understand the spiritual laws that I knew were always governing creation and that could be tangibly manifested in healing.
For example, if a psychologist labeled a student with a diagnosis such as attention deficit disorder, I would pray to know that a child of God completely expresses all of God's qualities. I knew that Christ, the spirit of Truth and Love, heals by revealing to human thought the unfallen perfection, the innocence and wholeness, of God's spiritual image. Some of the specific beliefs that needed to be challenged were distractibility, lack of focus and concentration, lack of selfcontrol, and lack of awareness of others' feelings. I would deny these beliefs with the truth that God is the Mind of each of His children, that this Mind is intelligent and purposeful and perfectly directs and controls each one's thoughts. My prayers helped lift my own thought about the students, and many of them found freedom from limitations placed on them.
Healing involves the revelation of our wholeness and innocence.
In addressing the belief that drugs are necessary to alter behavior, it's helpful to know that mental balance is obtained by understanding the completeness of each one's conscious spiritual individuality as the expression of divine Mind. Sometimes one needs to examine his or her thought and recognize which godly qualities need to be more fully expressed. For example, perhaps one needs to express more love and forgiveness, instead of harboring anger and irritation. Or, if a person is feeling upset and agitated, he or she might naturally pray to feel more fully God's love and peace. Through prayer, one gains freedom from the outward symptoms but also from the problem that is at the root of the symptoms.
Psychology deals with human observation and beliefs. In Christian Science, while we are aware of the human needs, we challenge mortal assumptions through an acknowledgment of the one perfect Mind as the only true cause and intelligence. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "In the quiet sanctuary of earnest longings, we must deny sin and plead God's allness." Science and Health, p. 15. Although the images of imperfection that the mortal view of identity includes can seem to be very compelling, they are actually no more real or constricting than the imaginary box depicted by a mime's hands. Through the understanding of one Mind that the Science of Christ brings, these limitations fall away, and we find healing.
