I woke up one morning and thought, “Today’s the day we move home!” But I wasn’t happy like I should have been. I was sad. As Americans living abroad for several years, my husband and I had made dear friends with those we had come into contact with, and had come to think of South Africa as our home.
But it was time, so I pushed the sadness away and finished the final packing details. We went to a friend’s house to say goodbye, and her dog was so excited to see us he knocked me over. A large cut opened just below my eyebrow, and there was blood everywhere. Our friend was initially alarmed, but she knew that we’re Christian Scientists and are accustomed to praying for healing. I cleaned and bandaged the wound, and reassured her all was well. We hugged goodbye and left.
Standing out on the sidewalk, I was overcome and couldn’t stop crying. All I could do was hold on mentally to what I knew to be true from my study and practice of Christian Science—that God is good, and good only; that God is Love; and that ever-present, tender Love was caring for me every moment.
This is indicative of practicing Christian Science—right in the midst of pain and shock was a confident expectation born of experience, that trusting God with my health and well-being was the soundest, smartest, and best decision I could make. It was also the quickest solution. I knew my confidence in God was stronger than the emotional reactions I was feeling, and I trusted God’s promise in the Bible, “I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26).
My husband and I left for London, where we spent a week before returning to America. Over the next day or so, I still felt an overwhelming sense of sadness, and my face hurt. I emailed my Christian Science teacher, asking her to pray for me, and she lovingly agreed, reminding me of the spiritual fact that I could never be separated from God. I knew this was true, and also knew that I needed to go deeper into why it was true.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, wrote: “The Scriptures give the keynote of Christian Science from Genesis to Revelation, and this is the prolonged tone: ‘For the Lord He is God, and there is none beside Him.’ And because He is All-in-all, He is in nothing unlike Himself; and nothing that worketh or maketh a lie is in Him, or can be divine consciousness” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 366).
What a profound idea to consider, beginning with the biblical statement that there is “none beside” God. And that God is “All-in-all.” Both statements are so all-encompassing and final. “All” is complete. There can be nothing outside of “All.” Therefore, there can’t be anything “unlike Himself”—unlike goodness, purity, perfection.
Christ Jesus said, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Mrs. Eddy explained these words in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “As a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being” (p. 361).
I prayed constantly with this truth of our oneness with God, declaring that because it was true, I couldn’t be separated from good of any kind. I reasoned that there could only be goodness, perfection, and freedom because of the allness and onlyness of God, good, and my oneness with Father-Mother Love. I also thought of what Jesus said to his disciples (which includes all of us today): “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
I knew the truths I was declaring about perfect God and perfect man did make me free.
We had a lovely week in London followed by a joyful reunion with our families in America. The cut on my face healed, but an ugly scar remained, and I could feel a shard of broken bone under the scar that moved whenever I touched the area. I continued to pray with the truth that I’m always at-one with my Father-Mother Love, and that I could never be, was not, and would never be separated from goodness of any kind.
Months passed, and one day when I touched that spot on my face, I realized there was no longer a loose bone fragment under the skin. I looked in the mirror, and the scar was gone. Staying mentally with the truth of my being that I could never be separated from God’s allness and goodness had brought complete healing.
As thrilled as I was, the best part of the healing came with subsequent reflection: Not only had I been physically healed, but I was no longer sad about our recent move back to America. I hadn’t realized the sadness had been a pattern. Before, whenever I moved to a new place, I was always sad. I felt regret over what I’d just left and apprehensive about the new experience ahead. But with this particular move, I’d been healed not only physically but also mentally.
Never again have I struggled with feelings of nostalgia or sadness during times of transition. We’ve moved several times since this healing, and each one has been more joyful and more expectant of good than the previous. What’s more, I’ve felt only increased gratitude and deep appreciation along the way for all the opportunities, friends, places, and memories that have enriched and supported me in my individual and spiritual growth. I am so grateful to God.
Jennifer McLaughlin
Boston, Massachusetts, US
