I wish to express gratitude for the lifetime of insight, peace, and healing I have gained from my study and practice of Christian Science. As a fifth-generation Christian Scientist, I appreciate the guidance I received from family members during my younger days, as well as all I’ve learned through my own study and practice of Christian Science. It is with pleasure and love that I am now sharing Christian Science with my children.
One experience in particular is an example of what Christian Science means to me. A few years ago, I heard a news story that involved dramatic complications associated with a person’s injury, and a subsequent infection. The story seemed to be on every TV and radio. I managed to put the story out of my thought, but neglected to pray to firmly reject the suggestion that there could be a power apart from God—in this case, the seeming power of accidents.
A short time later, I cut my arm. The injury was such that I felt it best to seek the help of a Christian Science nurse, who cleaned and bandaged the wounds and changed the bandage for me regularly over the next several days. I will always be grateful for the loving and knowledgeable care I received from several Christian Science nurses and for the steadfast and reassuring prayers of the Christian Science practitioner I contacted for metaphysical treatment.
Soon, however, frightening thoughts of infection came to mind. I found it difficult not to think back to the news story that I had heard. I knew I had to take a stand and address the aggressive suggestions that had been included in that story.
I began praying, reasoning spiritually, tackling the notion that an accident had occurred and that I had been hurt. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy describes the way to do this: “Declare that you are not hurt and understand the reason why, and you will find the ensuing good effects to be in exact proportion to your disbelief in physics, and your fidelity to divine metaphysics, confidence in God as All, which the Scriptures declare Him to be” (p. 397).
The simplest ideas were the most powerful in my prayerful work, including that there was no opportunity for either accident, or any substance or influence to invade and infect my existence. Science and Health says: “Under divine Providence there can be no accidents, since there is no room for imperfection in perfection” (p. 424).
The idea of perfection—of no room in us or our experience for anything but the qualities of God—is spoken of frequently in the Bible. For example, in Deuteronomy we read: “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God” (18:13). And in Matthew we find Christ Jesus’ words: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
My fear quickly diminished, and I was able to pray confidently without distraction. My understanding of these truths was reflected in my experience as the wounds closed promptly, without complication or discomfort, and healed quickly and completely.
But the physical healing isn’t the only part of the experience that I am grateful for. The incident had happened about a day and a half before I was to leave on a weeklong business trip abroad. I felt it was best to tell my colleagues that I’d be unable to attend the conference, and briefly explain the reason why. So, in addition to my concerns about my physical well-being, I was also worried about how my absence would be perceived, and what kind of probing questions I might get from my coworkers about the injury and how I was treating it. I was also worried about whether they could carry on without me, as I was to play a meaningful role at the event. Plus, I really wanted to visit this particular foreign city!
I prayed to understand more fully that I was protected not only from the accident and related physical complications, but also from any excessive talk about the issue and from missing opportunities for professional and personal enrichment.
The Bible says: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1). I knew that the protection of God’s refuge covered all my concerns, including the success of the conference; and that God’s very present help would be available to the team running the conference. I also knew that my happiness and fulfillment had nothing to do with a physical location, much less with which cities I did or did not visit. Mrs. Eddy writes: “God is everywhere, and nothing apart from Him is present or has power” (Science and Health, p. 473). So I had everything I could possibly ever need, right where I was.
Upon hearing that I’d be unable to attend the conference and why, my colleagues lovingly expressed their sympathies, told me not to worry about the duties I was going to perform, thanked me for all my preparatory work, and asked no further questions. The conference was executed smoothly and to the satisfaction of all attendees. And on top of that, my company liked the venue so much that it held another event in the same city later in the year, which I was able to attend. In fact, this was the only time in my career that a company I worked for chose the same city for two different events, which was extra proof to me that I couldn’t miss out on anything.
I am very grateful for this experience, with its rich demonstration of God’s protection and provision, and for the brotherly love that was expressed. I am also grateful for numerous other healing and learning experiences, and for Mary Baker Eddy’s discovery of Christian Science, which elucidates the teachings of Christ Jesus.
A. E. Bunce
Acton, Massachusetts, US
