Humility opens the way to healing

My morning run gives me a great opportunity to pray. During this quiet time, I pray for myself, my family, my church and community, as well as government leaders, and whatever else I feel led to address. One especially important goal is that I strive to see all creation as God made it: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31).

Several years ago, I was on a vacation with a large group of relatives. I’d just returned from my run when I had an unexpected clash with a person in the group, which caught me off-guard. I quickly walked away, feeling very offended by this individual’s remarks.

A short time later, as I was taking a shower, I was steaming more than the water! I did, however, make an effort to address my anger with prayer, and an answer came right away; I would have to apologize.

Not for the first time, I talked back. I thought, I’m not the one who’s wrong here, so why should I have to apologize? I kept replaying the incident in my mind, and just couldn’t let go of it. Then, I got another clear message: “Humble yourself. Just love.” I still couldn’t believe what I was hearing—what I was being told I had to do. But the thought kept coming to humble myself.

By the time I got out of the shower, I had a clear idea of how to approach my relative and humorously break the tension that had surrounded the incident. I certainly felt that this was a spiritual intuition.

I walked back outside and made a lighthearted comment about what had transpired, giving my relative a big hug. It was warmly returned, with an apology. Harmony prevailed, and it was clear to me that any bad feelings had completely evaporated.

More recently, I was again thinking about the importance of humility. My thoughts turned to Jesus. He healed people instantly, and yet said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).

One afternoon, when I’d returned home from work and was getting out of my car in the garage, I suddenly felt a pain as if someone had struck me in the side. It was so forceful that I almost looked around to see if someone was present. My legs then buckled, and I fell to the floor. I was in considerable discomfort and could hardly move, but I was able somehow to make my way into the house and sat down.

I’ve usually relied on my own prayers when challenges arise, but in this case I needed to be humble enough to contact a Christian Science practitioner. The practitioner’s prayers brought immediate relief. I was able to get around the house that evening and to go to work the next day, and by the following afternoon I was even able to run a slow two miles (something I hadn’t ever missed doing in 23 years).

Although there was still some discomfort during the next several weeks, I was grateful for God’s power to heal, and I was certain that I could experience complete healing. Still, the pain and fear would return periodically. But as I continued to put my whole faith in God—in the Mind that is the only power—and humbly sought prayerful help, I was completely free. That was three years ago, and there has been no relapse.

Through this and many other healings I continue to experience the blessing of practicing Christian Science.

Don Snyder | Flushing, Michigan, US