In my early 20s I noticed that my vision had started to deteriorate. It didn’t interfere too much with my regular activities, so I didn’t treat it in Christian Science. As time went on, however, my vision gradually continued to get worse. I prayed about it, but only whenever it was time to get my driver’s license renewed.
At each renewal period, however, I became more and more anxious that I would not pass the vision test. More than this, though, what I truly wanted was to see through the lens of Spirit.
Then, I unexpectedly moved to another state. I knew I’d have to get a new driver’s license, but kept putting it off and making excuses. When I learned that new residents should get a new license after just one month of having moved, I panicked. I had lived in my new state for four months already but had been afraid of not passing the vision test. Finally, I contacted a Christian Science practitioner to pray about this with me.
I had been listening to the Anthology of Classic Articles on CD in my car. One article that I listened to over and over was “I See!” by Noel D. Bryan-Jones (Journal, December 1946). An idea from it that I particularly liked was: “Man, the idea of Mind, is the embodiment of all right ideas. He includes vision, perception, and the power to express them.” How comforting it was for me to know that man, the man of God’s creating, which includes all of us, already includes vision; and since God is good, vision must also be good.
Another article, “Ageless Being” by Juliet Rothschild (Christian Science Sentinel, December 29, 1956), shared that since our being, which is spiritual, is unaffected by age, no aspect of our being, including vision, is affected by age or the passage of time. This stood out to me because my birthday had just passed—an age when the general belief is that people are expected to need corrective lenses.
I worked with the practitioner nearly every day for a couple of months. I was still concerned, yet I knew that it was right for me to apply for a license because it was a state requirement. I had been listening to a Christian Science lecture on YouTube titled “Time is not a factor in your life.” I had also attended the lecture in person. I listened to it multiple times and heard, “If it’s necessary for you to do something, you can do it.” At this point I realized that since time is not a factor in my life, there was no need to be hesitant about going to the DMV. I contacted the lecturer once for treatment. By the next day I felt at peace and resolved to visit the DMV at the next possible opportunity in my schedule. I also resumed treatment with my original practitioner regarding vision.
With his help, I started to identify things in my everyday activities spiritually. For example, when I was driving, I saw Principle in the painted lines on the road that stood for order. I saw Soul in the color of those lines. I saw Truth in the adjustment of speed limits as needed for safety or expediency, and so on. Principle, Soul, and Truth are synonyms of God.
When I got to the DMV office and took a seat, I continued to pray, endeavoring to see those around me spiritually, exchanging a mortal sense of things for the spiritual. I also knew that God, Mind, was governing all the affairs of the office and everyone in it.
When it was my turn, I confidently and joyfully approached the attendant, and all went smoothly. When it was time for the vision test, I was asked if I wore glasses, and I replied that I didn’t. The attendant asked me to look into the eye-test machine and read a certain line. The line that I was asked to read was clear, and I read it without hesitation or mistake. A short time later my permanent driver’s license arrived in the mail.
Not long after that, while I was shaving, I noticed that a brown spot which had been on one cheek for some years, something that I’d heard referred to as an “age spot,” had vanished.
Today I enjoy driving at any time of the day or night, and in any type of weather. The burden of matter has been lifted, and my vision remains clear.
Russell Whittaker
Wells, Maine, US
