After I retired, I found myself traveling quite a bit and also living in two places. At that time I felt it was easier to attend Christian Science church services online. I was extremely grateful for them even though I missed attending my own branch church. I began to feel certain that Christian Scientists no longer really need a church edifice when the Church has so many other resources available to communicate the message of Christian Science.
However, the following healing profoundly changed my mind about this!
Although I am a resident of Massachusetts, I live part-time in the Chicago area to help with grandchildren. The summer of 2017 I was joyfully in the process of planning my annual road trip back to Massachusetts, when I suddenly fell seriously ill.
Weighing heavily on me at the time were several things that left me feeling lost and alone. The previous week a grown son had moved far away, and on account of various circumstances, I felt an overwhelming sense of loss and sadness. My only other family in the area was out of the country. Although I had attended a couple of local branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, I had yet to make any close friends, and I became very concerned about my options for care.
I was praying to know that God’s love fills all space. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy says: “The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty, and glory of infinite Love fill all space” (p. 520). And I was praying to really embrace that I could never be separated from my Father-Mother, divine Love.
Although I often find it tempting to look for a physical cause for a physical problem, I know this is futile since there is actually no life or intelligence in matter. In truth, God is the only cause, the only power. According to Science and Health: “There is but one primal cause. Therefore there can be no effect from any other cause, and there can be no reality in aught which does not proceed from this great and only cause. Sin, sickness, disease, and death belong not to the Science of being. They are the errors, which presuppose the absence of Truth, Life, or Love” (p. 207).
Nevertheless, several times I felt overcome with aggressive thoughts that perhaps it was time to just give up and pass on. But from the teachings of Christian Science I knew one should never accept death as an answer.
I was reminded by what Paul says in Romans that I couldn’t actually be separated from God: “Neither death, nor life, … nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God” (8:38, 39). Yet, the symptoms persisted, and I was unable to pray earnestly and consistently for myself. I did make an effort to keep “the scientific statement of being” (Science and Health, p. 468) and the Lord’s Prayer close in thought.
Finally, I reached out to a Christian Science practitioner for Christian Science treatment, and she agreed to pray for me. Knowing that she would pray for me was a great comfort. She felt led to suggest that I arrange for Christian Science nursing care also. I initially rejected that idea; however, by the next morning, with no noticeable improvement and not being able to do the most basic things, I changed my mind. I managed to call a local Christian Science nurse, who lovingly proceeded to arrange for care for me.
Later that morning, a Christian Science nurse came to my home. She read to me from Mary Baker Eddy’s writings, helped me shower, and made me a meal since I hadn’t eaten in a few days because I hadn’t been able to get out of bed. Also, after becoming aware of the situation, the care committee of the local branch Church of Christ, Scientist, began to gather volunteers to help. And one of my Christian Science friends whom I have known for years even offered to hop on a plane and fly three hours to be with me. (That turned out not to be needed.) All that love pouring out!
I felt completely embraced by caring and tender love. By mid-afternoon, I knew I was healed. I was rid of that false sense of being separated from Father-Mother Love, from wholeness and health. I knew that divine Love had displaced it! I could tangibly feel divine Love’s presence, which had always really been there. The Christian Science nurse left. Though it took a few more days to get my full strength back, I experienced complete healing of the physical condition and the heavy feelings.
I am so grateful to the Christian Science practitioner for her devoted prayerful treatment and to the Christian Science nurse for the compassionate and practical care she provided. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love shown by the members of the local branch church who were willing to take time out of their busy schedules to help me. As it turned out, most of the help offered was not necessary. It was wonderful when I was able to let everyone know I was healed! And the blessing did not stop there. I had been unable to plan my trip agenda. Yet once healing happened, the entire trip became clear in thought in ways that I never could have humanly planned, including visiting a relative I hadn’t seen for years. A friend came to visit as had been long planned, and we drove the 900 miles together. The whole trip worked out very harmoniously.
I feel that it was divine Love, including the love expressed by my fellow Christian Scientists, that made the healing possible. Once the practitioner and local branch church members and others became aware of the need, the healing began taking place very quickly. That is the power of church!
I now know that there is no substitute for church, church membership, and church work. There is nothing like the joy of gathering in church to witness the love and dedication of members who continue to support healing and progress that is blessing the community and the world. As a student of Christian Science, I realize the importance of belonging to a church family that can bear witness to healing.
I am so grateful for Christian Science, and for the dedicated Christian Science practitioners and teachers and Christian Science nurses, whose conviction of the truth and spiritual understanding of God help bring forth healing. And I’m deeply grateful for The Mother Church and its branch churches.
Ellen Richardson
Oswego, Illinois, US
