Two summers ago, my wife and I were vacationing on a remote lake in Maine with family members. One night, at dinner, I noticed that my lip was numb. I thought nothing of it at the time. But over the next day or so, the numbness increased so that it was difficult for me to drink, and I began to slur my speech. Soon, the entire left side of my face was paralyzed, and I couldn't even blink my eye.
Since I am accustomed to relying on God for my health and happiness—and since what was happening was obviously not progressive or good—I realized that I needed to pray for myself. I recall lying in bed and praying to overcome the fear I was feeling, specifically the fear of having had a stroke.
I did this by acknowledging the allness and the omnipotence of God, and my perfection as His likeness. I firmly recognized God's tender and constant care. I knew divine Mind was maintaining the perfection of each of its ideas, including me. Gradually, I was able to overcome the fear, and I was even able to join in the vacation activities, which included hiking, boating, water-skiing, and tubing, though the physical symptoms persisted and were now evident in my appearance.
