THE BOOK, In My True Light and Life, a collection of communications from, to, and about Mary Baker Eddy, includes a reminiscence from Caroline S. Bates in which she attributed the following statement to Mrs. Eddy, "Error has no history" (p. 521). I found this concept to be profoundly stirring, and for a while it became the focus of my attention. In studying Christian Science I've learned that I'm the spiritual image of God, and anything that would suggest otherwise is a lie or error, without truth, substance, or intelligence. This focus on error having no history led me to further study, which included this statement in Science and Health, "The history of error or matter, if veritable, would set aside the omnipotence of Spirit; but it is the false history in contradistinction to the true" (pp. 521-522).
How grateful I was for the opportunity to expand my understanding of this potent truth, because it was soon put to use! One day I was returning to a garage where I'd parked my car and as I exited an elevator I missed seeing a step down and my entire body fell forward with full force onto a concrete surface.
A man who was nearby rushed to my side and asked me if I was OK. I replied, "Why, yes I am," which was less of a personal response about my physical condition and more an acknowledgment of my spiritual state of well-being. He kindly helped me stand up and I was able to walk to my car where I began to pray. The first thought that came to mind was, "Error has no history." It was an immediate rebuke to the notion that something bad had taken place, leaving me injured.
