One day while I was out hiking with friends, I fell on my ankle just as we were walking back to our car. The moment it happened, the words “holds the divine order,” a phrase from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, came to thought and kept me focused on the spiritual fact that God holds all that He makes in perfect order, therefore there is no opportunity for accident or injury. This idea helped me rule out thoughts of pain or fear. I was able to walk to the car without assistance.
During the ride back home I looked up the entire quotation in Science and Health: “The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science; and Science knows no lapse from nor return to harmony, but holds the divine order or spiritual law, in which God and all that He creates are perfect and eternal, to have remained unchanged in its eternal history” (pp. 470–471). I found this particularly helpful as I prayed to understand that God’s law of harmony is never broken or out of place, and therefore I could see at that moment that my true selfhood as the reflection of God never fell.
Upon returning home, I found that, although I was free from discomfort, I was unable to put weight on my foot. At this point, I felt that it would be helpful to have the support of a Christian Science practitioner. The practitioner specifically addressed my concern about the appearance of bruising and swelling. While working with the practitioner, I rarely felt pain, and I was able to carry out most of my day-to-day duties at work and at home.
