Article February 24, 1917 Issue

Spiritual Resistance

NINA V. WRIGHT

Many times I have been most grateful for the help derived from the privilege of teaching in the Christian Science Sunday school. In one instance a demonstration related by one of my little pupils was particularly helpful to me, and with the thought that perhaps it may be service to others I will repeat her demonstration in my own words.

During her sleep, the child said, she had been troubled more or less with unhappy dreams, in which she had been under the delusion that a wicked appearing man, carrying a gun, had stealthily opened the door and entered her room. In the dream her first thought as he approached was one of terror; then, still asleep, she remembered the truth and said, "No; God loves me, and the ugly man has no power to harm me." Immediately on declaring her safety in God's protection she became fearless and calm. In spite of her realization of the truth, however, the man seemed to approach until he came to the foot of her bed, when he glowered at her with an expression of hatred in his eyes. She again declared God's allness, and dreamed that she arose from her bed, asserting again and again her safety in God's love; but in spite of her continued declarations the man still seemed determined to proceed with his wicked intent.

One would think, as a natural course of events, that the seeming error could go no farther, but would be obliterated right there, under the face of the positive, consistent declarations of the child. But no; error sometimes seems most persistent. The man aimed the gun at her, with slow and careful deliberation. Then he pulled the trigger, and a loud explosion followed. But, lo! instead of striking her the shot had struck the wall beside her. Seeing that his attempt had failed, the visionary villain immediately threw down his weapon, turned, and ran away through the open door as if he were the frightened one. Whereupon the little girl awakened to find herself snugly tucked in bed, quiet and unafraid, and with a prayer of thanks in her heart that even in her sleep God was ever present in a time of seeming need. This recalls our Leader's counsel on page 442 of Science and Health: "Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake."

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