Almost every day I wake up completely grateful and certain that my public ministry as a practitioner of the Science of the Christ is the best job in the world. I am so grateful to have the privilege, along with every other student of Christian Science, of working toward the high goal stated by Mary Baker Eddy in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good” (p. 450). It is a joy to have this goal before me as I pray for healing for others, even though at times it can also seem like a too big and unattainable expectation.
I have sometimes wondered about this expectation, as well as another passage that Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, wrote: “… may each member of this church rise above the oft-repeated inquiry, What am I? to the scientific response: I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 165). These high expectations that Mrs. Eddy had for Christian Scientists have sometimes made me stop and ask: “How in the world could I, or anyone, ever impart truth, health, and happiness, as well as lessen evil, disease, and death? I have no personal ability, power, or strength to do these things. My goodness, this is a lot to expect!”
I have come to see that, actually, I never could fulfill these expectations merely as a personal, independent actor, nor could anyone. So, what are we to do? At times I have been guilty of questioning God, “What really is my role? What need do You have of me?” But our role in healing is not actually a personal one, and this should be a relief to all of us. The expectations Mrs. Eddy had for Christian Scientists might seem impossible only if we have too much concern about ourselves as person, rather than as witness, agent, outcome, and instrument of God. In reality we are not isolated people “over here” who appeal for aid to a God “over there.” Rather, we are living in God, divine Mind, and shining forth as Mind’s self-expression.
