SOME YEARS AGO when working as a graphic designer, I found myself hurrying to prepare a presentation in time for a meeting that afternoon. I was making a prototype of a design product using a sharp and precise knife, when the knife blade slipped, slicing deep into my left index finger. I grabbed a clean rag, wrapped the finger to stop the bleeding, and immediately began to pray. I knew that treatment through prayer would enable me to combat the fear and pain I felt and would settle my thought so that I could be receptive to the truth-filled, healing ideas I needed to hear from God.
I felt God's loving presence and care right there with me, guiding my prayers. Instantly the idea came to consider a statement I'd memorized where Mary Baker Eddy asserted the unreality of accidents: "Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony" (Science and Health, p. 424).
I kept going over this citation and shut my eyes—not focusing on the appearance of the wound. This helped me instead to focus on the truth that Mrs. Eddy's statement contained. I knew that this was important to do as Christian Science healing is based on treating what's going on in your consciousness, or thinking, and not the material evidence shown on the body.
