Spiritual insights bring decisive healing

I recently experienced what was to me a wonderful spiritual adventure: two healings the very same day based on the ideas in one paragraph from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. A testifier had related in a Christian Science periodical how the ideas in that paragraph had helped her in a physical emergency. This prompted me to reread the familiar citation, which begins, “When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea” (Science and Health, p. 495).

What stood out to me this time was the word sin, and I thought to myself, “You do that (cling to God) when you’re sick, but what about if it’s sin—when you’re upset, angry, annoyed, tired?” I realized that almost never (initially anyway) did I see such behavior as an illusion and cling to God and His idea. As the importance of this direction sank in, I recognized it as a demand and a solution.

I’d been feeling that there were things going on in the world that seemed contrary to God’s power. I was buying into them as reality and at the same time becoming disturbed by all of it. This reaction had been invading my days and my outlook, and I realized it needed correcting.

Right then the clarity of Mrs. Eddy’s instruction and demand was so apparent and simple that I accepted it as a wonderful way to think and behave regarding news of any kind. With that realization, my peace was immediate and complete. I felt such a deep freedom and awe of God’s power! Since then, whenever tempted to be annoyed or upset by the news, I quickly turn to God and His spiritual creation as the only reality.

At the same time as this, I was also struggling with a painful intestinal condition. Although I’d been praying for several hours, it had become very persistent and debilitating, and kept me near the bathroom. But I suddenly realized that this entire paragraph, Science and Health, page 495, from line 14 to 24, held the rest of the answer for me.

My husband and I had been planning to take a two-hour bike ride. The terrain was hilly, and there would be no opportunity for stopping along the way. It didn’t look like I’d be going anywhere, let alone biking. Yet the thought came, “Do you believe any or all of what you’re reading?” Of course! “Well then, let’s see those truths operate as the substance of your being.” So I printed the citation out in large enough text to read a phrase at a time as I biked.

When we began our ride, this question also came to me: “What are you clinging to? What exactly do God and His idea look like?” As I prayed, I began with divine Mind and its attributes, then went to Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love (other names for God given in Science and Health). I thought about how the expression of each of these synonyms could be recognized and experienced—such as the power of Mind, the health of Truth, Spirit’s substance, and the identity and changeless nature of Soul.

Then the definition of the word idea came to thought: “An image in Mind; the immediate object of understanding” (Science and Health, p. 115). An image in Mind certainly didn’t sound to me like a mortal—sick or well, young or old, coming or going.

As my husband and I rode along, every word of that paragraph I’d posted on my bike (from page 495) gave me the strength and confidence to continue. It spoke to me of my perfection and dominion under every condition. For instance, the line “Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought” reminded me that I could choose what I entertained, one thought at a time; I could recognize only the good and rejoice in it. And the phrase, “Let Christian Science, instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being,” helped me realize that my being was already harmonious, not changing, fixing itself, or becoming.

I got so engrossed exploring what God and His idea meant that the ride was absolutely heavenly, without any fear or sickness overshadowing it.

The healing was permanent—the pain completely gone, and the entire ride harmonious. No one, not even my husband, knew of any illness until I shared it at our church’s testimony meeting some time later.

Sandra H. Shrewsbury | Danville, California, US