Steve's feet sank in desert powder as he trudged through the brush. Checking the sun, he figured on a full hour's "hunting." So far he'd uncovered two of the large, harmless snakes of the area, a blacksnake and a gopher snake. Still time for a blue racer up a tree.

Steve usually hiked way out of town. He could hardly wait to pass the last house. Mostly he liked to be alone, to observe the wildlife by himself.

Before each trip he took time to pray. He thought about his God-given safety even under rugged, outdoor conditions. He acknowledged that as the expression of Life man is safe and indestructible.

Steve saw the blue racer! Only for a second. Perfect to take to school for the Children's Zoo. But it moved too fast, out of reach and was camouflaged by tree branches before he got there. Third one he'd seen this month.

Steve's teacher in the Christian Science Sunday School was one of the few people who encouraged his interest in snakes. She showed him Mrs. Eddy's statement, "The serpent of God's creating is neither subtle nor poisonous, but is a wise idea, charming in its adroitness, for Love's ideas are subject to the Mind which forms them,—the power which changeth the serpent into a staff. ^{Science and Health, p. 515;}

Using this quotation, Steve reasoned that God's universe is made up of useful, obedient, and loving ideas of Mind. Even poisonous snakes and harmful animals are, in reality, Love s ideas, obedient to the Mind that makes them. Mortal sense sees them as destructive and vicious, and humanity suffers from this false view. Many people suppose that all so-called dangerous animals should be destroyed, when actually, as Steve knew, they usually serve a useful purpose in the world.

The warm winter sun was going down. After hiking some distance Steve reached down and, out of curiosity, picked up a rock. What was under it? This time, trouble. A scorpion clung to the rock. It was the biggest scorpion Steve had ever seen. Before he could move, it fastened itself on him and stung his hand.

Steve prayed! In protest he declared that matter could not be hurt. He practically shouted out, "There aren't two powers—God and matter. Christ Jesus said, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.' ^{Luke 10:19;} Nothing can hurt me. I'm all right now!"

Then he sat down and quietly said the Lord's Prayer, the prayer that meets all human needs. When he finished, he expected to get up and head for home. Steve found he couldn't get up. He felt very strange. So he prayed this same, healing prayer again.

Then Steve remembered Mrs. Eddy's statement, "Error is a coward before Truth." ^{Science and Health, p. 368;} It was one of his favorites, and it had always proved to be true for him. How could it help now in the face of error's poisonous sting? He must see the whole experience as false, as error's illusion. Then he would not allow the illusion to occupy room in his thinking. Instead, he’d know that cowards try to talk big but that all that is going on is good and God-directed.

Steve didn't even look to his body. Instead, he exposed error's emptiness. He felt sure that Spirit was his only real substance. That was why he wasn't afraid of what the material senses were telling him was going on. In Spirit there is no hurt to look at, no swelling, no inability to move. In Spirit and in the spiritual universe there is freedom of activity for all—peaceful, harmless, loving purpose for all life.

Steve was instantly healed of the effects of the poison. He was able to get up and start home. He was thrilled because there, far away from human help, he had been healed by the ever-available power of the Christ. The truth was active in his consciousness, ready to correct any error.

Steve had prayed, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," ^{Matt. 6:10;} and he had demonstrated something of Mrs. Eddy's spiritual interpretation of this petition: "Enable us to know,—as in heaven, so on earth,—God is omnipotent, supreme." ^{Science and Health, p. 17.}

Street lights were already on when he reached town. Through the lighted window of his house he saw his family seated around the dinner table.

As Steve slipped into his seat, his father said, "It's late, Son. Where were you?"

The whole experience was like a dream. Steve told his family everything: how the scorpion had stung him; how he'd given himself a Christian Science treatment and prayed. He told them he hadn't been able to move after the first prayer and had prayed this great, healing prayer once more. Then he was able to walk.

Steve had never seen his father look so pleased. He was grateful because Steve was following the steps of many Christian Scientists today who camp, mountain climb, or challenge nature.

"What a divine adventure life is!" his father said. "Wherever you are, you can claim your God-given dominion. Remember Paul?" Steve nodded.

"He was probably as active in the outdoors as anybody we know today. Paul shook off a snake, which came cut of the fire and bit him. He was healed, and by the same mighty power of the Christ."

After a few minutes Steve noticed one of his sisters watching him.

"Steve, if you were healed, why are you using your other hand to eat?" she said softly.

Steve laughed and put both hands to use. Then he supported the healing work that had been accomplished. Out there in the fields he had prayed: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

Now, God was still keeping him in the kingdom. He was established in Mind, and there he would stay!

He silently declared that his treatment had been complete and effective. "What the Christ has done, is done!" he told himself, springing up the back stairs to study after supper.

By morning it was impossible for him to tell which hand had been stung.