I HAD FALLEN HEAVILY in the shopping center. I expected to shake off the effects of the fall quickly, so I proceeded to the office as usual. I soon returned home, however, as one arm and my right hand were very painful, and my forehead was bleeding.
I prayed and read the Bible Lesson for the week (in the Christian Science Quarterly), which contained many references to the arm and hand of God. It was very clear to me that these symbols of His power could not be injured or painful. And because I am God's idea, created by Him in His likeness, what is true about God is true about me. This promise appears in Isaiah: "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him" (40:10). The pain and injury promptly began to recede.
Just prior to this fall, prompted by a great need for spiritual renewal and redirection, I had been doing an intensive study of Science and Health. At first I felt as though this injury was a setback in my efforts. My study had been inspired and joyful. I had expected only good results, and now I wrestled with a feeling of failure. Then it occurred to me that when I took courses in school I didn't view a test as a sign of failure. I'd seen it as a chance to prove my mastery of the course material. That this was no different. If I had indeed mastered some aspects of truth in my study of Christian Science, this was simply an opportunity to put into practice what I'd learned. From then on I proceeded confidently and with joy to prove the power of Truth to bring complete healing to the injury.
