Article September 7, 1946 Issue

Some Thoughts on Healing

DELLA M. WHITNEY

When the following words from the Preface to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. xi) are understood, each individual accepting and faithfully adhering to them will become his own physician: "The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation." In prayerfully pondering this passage, one sees that in order to heal he must first come to understand that all disease is mental, the result of some false sense entertained, and then abolish it by seeing God as the source of all true consciousness.

Many times we reach the place in our effort to heal disease where we see clearly that the so-called condition is but an error of thought, and we then search our consciousness and endeavor to correct any wrong thinking we are entertaining. Sometimes, however, the error seems to persist and the task of keeping our thoughts on spiritual things appears difficult, especially if the inharmony appears to be pain or some sort of physical disability. But we should not for a moment accept defeat. We recognize that our need is for greater spiritual light and wisdom, and out of many unfailing Bible promises these two may come to our rescue: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matt. 5:6); and, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,...and it shall be given him" (James 1:5).

As we read these hope-inspiring statements, we discover something further which we need, namely, a clearer understanding of God and how to pray effectually and persistently for spiritual light so that our prayer will be answered. We cannot turn too often to the chapter on Prayer in Science and Health, studying it word by word and sentence by sentence. It serves as a spiritual set of rules, so to speak, by which we can check up on our thinking and see where the mistake is, so that we can correct it and obtain the harmonious answer.

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