Article October 27, 1928 Issue

True Motive for Healing

JESSE R. BOWMAN

When the student of Christian Science calls upon a practitioner for aid, in the seeker's consciousness there is usually the desire for some definite result to be brought about. It may be the healing of disease that is sought; it may be release from some other bondage; it may be freedom from lack with its accompanying fears, or from any other one of the beliefs of mortal mind. The practitioner lovingly applies the truth which frees the seeker from the belief of suffering, and guides him to see the duty, joy, and desirability of individual activity in Christian Science.

As the student progresses, there may come a period in the working out of his problem when he feels that he has done everything required of him, and yet his demonstration is not made. Such an experience came to one sincere seeker of Truth, and much earnest thought and prayer was devoted to finding the reason for the uncompleted demonstration. In searching his thinking, he asked himself the questions: Suppose I make this demonstration; just what benefit will it be to the world? Shall I be able to bless mankind as a result of it? What is the real reason I should make this demonstration? Immediately it was recognized that spiritual healing could certainly not be merely a personal problem. Then a beautiful thought flooded his consciousness, from Mrs. Eddy's statement in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 454), "Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching." Then true healing must be for the purpose of glorifying God and blessing all mankind. Upon further seeking there was found on page 150 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy's explanation: "The mission of Christian Science now, as in the time of its earlier demonstration, is not primarily one of physical healing. Now, as then, signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin,—to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world."

Here, then, was the answer to his problem. Instead of looking at the seeming difficulty as an opportunity to prove God's omnipotent, omnipresent power, an opportunity to prove the truth to all men, an opportunity which would bless all who witnessed and heard of it, the sufferer had regarded the difficulty only from the selfish standpoint of his own healing. When this point was reached, there began the work of ridding consciousness of the desire merely to receive, replacing it with the desire to give. Gradually a love for all mankind was realized in some degree; and as he thus worked, the seeming problem vanished.

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