THE OPENING STATEMENT from Science and Health, "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings" (p. vii), has long been a favorite reminder that trusting God brings only goodness into our lives. I have proved the truth of this statement many times, but never more so than several years ago when I experienced heart palpitations along with debilitating chest and back pain. While the symptoms were never diagnosed, I felt certain that the physical signals I was getting indicated a heart condition.
For many months after the pain first appeared, I continued with my duties as a mom to two teenagers, along with being a Sunday School teacher and part-time elementary school librarian. I prayed daily for strength and courage. During this challenging time, I was often supported by the prayers of a Christian Science practitioner, who assured me that because God is divine Love, I could expect to feel Love's support as I cared for myself and my family. It was clear to me that I needed to understand more deeply that I am entirely spiritual—that my being is derived directly from God and is therefore indestructible. The practitioner urged me to keep in mind how God had created me and how I reflected this "great heart of Love" completely, perfectly, unfailingly (Science and Health, p. 448).
In the spring, about eight months after the difficulty began, I reduced my hours at work as librarian to just two days a week and dedicated my free time to prayer. I endeavored to follow the example of Jesus, who healed, Mrs. Eddy wrote, because "he claimed no intelligence, action, nor life separate from God" (Science and Health, p. 136). The practitioner and I prayed that I could feel, see, and experience this vitalizing unity that I, too, had with God. And I endeavored to see more clearly the uninterrupted law of divine Love operating in my life. The practitioner helped me to understand that God's law governs everything and everyone absolutely and in perfect rhythm. I can see now that acknowledging and accepting the fact of divine Love's absolute government of my being was an essential step toward healing.
