I was raised in a family of Christian Scientists. My grandparents on both sides of the family were Christian Scientists as well. Among all of us, we’ve had healings of broken bones, poison ivy, sun poisoning, lumps and bumps, depression, and more. I’ve been so grateful to witness and/or experience many of these healings. If I ever have even the slightest doubt about the efficacy of Christian Science, I remind myself of them (and the general freedom from illness I had growing up) and I think, How could I ever doubt the healing power of Truth?
About five years ago, I had a healing that became foundational to my practice of Christian Science. One summer day I was alarmed by abnormal bleeding. My initial inclination was to be afraid that something harmful was happening in my body. However, I had recently completed Primary class instruction in Christian Science and knew exactly what I needed to do—I knew how to treat myself with Christian Science. I was able to become calm by affirming the presence of the one divine Mind that supplied me with all the grace and intelligence I needed to handle this issue through prayer. I also called my mother, who is a Christian Scientist, and asked her to pray for me.
Not long after calling her and telling her what I was struggling with, I began to pass out. I seemed to have no control over my body, which was convulsing. But with what awareness I did have, I knew what to do. My father had recently had an experience where he’d fallen headfirst off of a roof but was able to get up completely unscathed. When I asked him what had happened between the moment he fell off the roof and when he landed, he said he’d had enough time to reach out to God. I had wondered how someone could reach out to God in such a short amount of time, but now, lying on the floor, I too was able to reach out to God. For an instant, I was deeply conscious of the allness of God.
Immediately, the convulsions stopped and I was able to pick up my phone and speak with my mother, who had not hung up. She told me that my cousins were going to pick me up and take me to a Christian Science nursing facility. I also called a Christian Science practitioner, who agreed to pray for me and spoke to me very tenderly each time I called him that day.
I was admitted to the Christian Science nursing facility, and the practitioner, my family members, and I continued to pray. I felt so loved. I remember specifically praying with the ideas in the chapter titled “Science of Being” in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. As I prayed, I felt so aware of the harmonious nature of the universe and that everything worked in accord with Principle, God.
I also prayed to understand the presence of the one Mind, God, the one real consciousness. The fact that there is one Mind which imparts everlasting harmony and balance was so clear to me. Because there is one God, and therefore one Mind, I reasoned, I could never have any other consciousness but the consciousness of good—keen, aware, fearless.
As I read and studied Science and Health, I felt the certainty of Christ, Truth. I knew that the healing power of divine Science is unchallenged and that matter had only the power I gave it. It was clear to me that this sickness was unintelligent and had not a shred of truth to it. I actively denounced any thoughts that I was unwell.
After about an hour or so of prayer, I was certain that healing was well underway. I was still fearful, though, that there would be lingering symptoms of bleeding, so I prayed specifically to handle that fear—to know the verity and power of the one Mind, in which there is no room for fear. I understood that I did not own any fear, and that fear could not and would never own my thinking or have control over it. I knew it!
I was so inspired by the idea that “fear never stopped being and its action” (Science and Health, p. 151)—that we are regulated by the unwavering, faultless, undaunted, and ever-present law of God.
From that point forward, there was no bleeding. This entire experience happened over the course of a few hours. I was healed so quickly that I thought, “The nurses are going to wonder why on earth I’m even here!” I was perfectly well. That afternoon, I checked out of the facility and immediately began to go about my regular daily activities.
I reached out to the practitioner, my Christian Science teacher, to share my gratitude for his steadfast support. He sent me this reply: “You’ve awakened from a dream that never need be dreamed again—ever.” And I have not suffered from those symptoms again.
I am so grateful for this complete healing. It brought a new sense of purpose to my study of Christian Science. I am also so grateful to God for the love of my family, and for the selfless devotion of Christian Science nurses, practitioners, and teachers. Finally, I’m forever filled with gratitude for the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy.
Lena Carlson
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, US
