Recently a young boy stopped by our home on his way through the neighborhood. He wanted us to know he was available to do any inside or outside cleaning or chores. Although we didn’t have any work for him at that moment, I took his phone number and let him know how much I admired his spirit of entrepreneurship. We talked a while about how special it is to start a business and be of service to others.
I was barely out of grade school when my own lawn-mowing business took off. Before long, I had several neighborhood lawns to look after in my new and thriving enterprise. And it was a memorable day for me when one of my customers, on his own, decided to pay me a 25 percent increase to mow his lawn (from $1 to $1.25)!
There are countless examples of people of all ages and backgrounds who have a vision for developing a business that will be not only profitable but satisfying. The spirit of entrepreneurship blesses society in many ways, especially when it is impelled by the unselfish desire to help others.
Are there some parallels with the practice of Christian Science healing? Well, yes and no. The healing work is a Christian ministry rather than a business in the traditional sense. Yet Christ Jesus said, when he was only twelve, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). He was referring to the business of spiritual healing, which he devoted his life to in fulfillment of his unique, God-given mission to humanity. And for us the healing work is a divine calling—one that requires spiritual vision and a genuine desire to be of service.
Through the years the Christian Science periodicals have published numerous articles by those who have followed Jesus’ teachings, devoting themselves to going about their Father’s business, which has the deep-rooted purpose of awakening us all to our God-given freedom from conflict and disappointment, lack and limitation, discord and discomfort. And most of all, to our freedom from sin—especially the sin of believing we are vulnerable mortals, separated from a God who is infinitely good. There’s nothing as satisfying as helping someone discover what it means to be the very image and likeness of God, Spirit. That is, to have dominion over the limitations of matter and see reality from the standpoint of Spirit.
A successful entrepreneur does well to check his or her reasons for starting a business. The same goes for a Christian Science practitioner.
While you may have read quite a bit in the Journal about the nature of the ministry called Christian healing, which Christian Science practitioners are engaged in full time, you’ve probably seen less written about the “business side” of the practice, such as the need to keep records for tax purposes and to budget enough income to pay monthly bills. It doesn’t hurt to examine that side of the business from time to time and ensure it’s a support instead of a drag to our primary purpose of healing. A few points come to mind:
MOTIVES
A successful entrepreneur does well to check his or her reasons for starting a business. The same goes for a Christian Science practitioner. If our true desire is to help others, we’re going to be successful and less inclined to slide into selfish motives, such as wanting to simply make a living, pay the bills, or become more widely known. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy says, “Christian Science reveals Truth and Love as the motive-powers of man” (p. 490). When an individual feels separated from God, from Truth and Love, we are divinely impelled to tell that individual the truth about their actual unity with God. What a wonderful job we have: to be Truth-tellers, and see healings result from affirming with conviction the oneness of God and His child.
RECORDS
Countries like the United States require, for tax purposes, clear records of income and expenses for any business, including that of Christian Science practitioners. Have an orderly way of keeping track of income from treatments, and the expenses incurred, such as from advertising (including the cost of placing your name in The Christian Science Journal, if you feel led to take that step), office supply costs, and charges for a smartphone and other communication devices. The practice requires a minimum of start-up expenses, and with a little discipline it’s possible to maintain a low overhead.
You might consider an important part of your record-keeping to be making note of the spiritual insights that were key to a specific healing. I remember making quite a few notes, for example, on thoughts I had about the spiritual nature of Church in praying about a case. I felt these points were instrumental in the healing.
MODESTY
Mary Baker Eddy, who founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, as well as several publications, including the Journal—and was one of the more successful businesswomen of her time—wrote, “The honest student of Christian Science is modest in his claims and conscientious in duty, waiting and working to mature what he has been taught” (No and Yes, p. 2). There are many opportunities for practitioners to practice modesty. In other words, they wouldn’t find it natural to either build up their personality or underestimate their spiritual individuality. Seeking this ideal can apply to a number of areas, such as what they claim for their own practice of healing; how they conduct themselves among fellow church members; how they charge patients; the role they define for themselves as a practitioner within the Christian Science movement; and how they are perceived by friends and neighbors who are not Christian Scientists. It’s worth remembering that Mrs. Eddy links “modest in his claims” with being “conscientious in duty.” An emphasis on the former will strengthen the ability to fulfill the latter.
INCOME
Just as others do, Christian Science practitioners pay their utility bills, buy groceries, and contribute financially to church. It’s natural for them to value their work and expect an adequate income so that they can carry forward a healing mission. When I began in the healing practice, my income was pretty modest, and my wife and I weren’t sure it would cover our expenses. But I remembered a practitioner friend who had once pointed out this statement in Mrs. Eddy’s writings: “In the early history of Christian Science, among my thousands of students few were wealthy. Now, Christian Scientists are not indigent; and their comfortable fortunes are acquired by healing mankind morally, physically, spiritually” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. ix). I’ve valued the order she gave for those three aspects of healing mankind. And I can recall thinking that “comfortable fortunes” should be more than adequate! The fortunes of God’s goodness that have come to my life certainly have been abundant.
AVAILABILITY
My wife mentioned the other day that too often when she stopped at a local hardware store, it was closed. So she’s been less likely to shop there now. She’ll go to a store more dependably open. Patients, understandably, would feel the same way about a Christian Science practitioner who is hard to contact. When a patient feels troubled, the situation usually needs to be addressed right away rather than at the practitioner’s convenience. The patient expects the store to be open. Even more, he or she wants to feel the divine Love that heals and impels the practitioner to eagerly serve all those who call on him for help through prayer. That atmosphere of unselfish Love provides the best environment for healing.
It would be difficult to think of a career or mission more fulfilling than that of a Christian healer. While Mrs. Eddy saw modesty as central to the practice of healing, she wrote, “A real scientific Healer is the highest position attainable in this sphere of being” (Robert Peel, Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Authority, p. 101). That’s the kind of vision we would want to nurture for this unique and holy work. And we would want to be realistic in what steps best support our spiritual entrepreneurship.
ACQUAINTANCE WITH YOUR CLIENT
A contractor gets acquainted with his client’s home needs, an accountant with his financial condition, a mechanic with his car, and a doctor with his patient’s physical condition. But a Christian Science practitioner becomes acquainted, through what the Christ, Truth, brings to light, with a patient’s consciousness. That’s a very special relationship to have with someone—a holy experience. Through prayer, you discover the distinct ways God is reflected in this individual, the intelligently designed expression of Mind. Their beauty and purity, the harmony and joy of their unique being. Value what God is revealing. This contributes to the healing work you do for your patient.
Getting back to the young fellow who came to our house looking for work, he was probably more interested in a job than just tips on getting a job. But the few tips I did give him were along the lines of what made my lawn-mowing business successful: Consider your motives. Be available. Keep good records. Keep your overhead low. Let modesty characterize your words and actions. Know your client.
I’ve found this to be sound advice to follow in my own healing practice, and for anyone who wants to be a successful “spiritual entrepreneur.”
