Article April 3, 1978 Issue

Knowing—really knowing—the truth

JUDITH ANN HARDY

"Know the truth." Those were the last words of the Christian Science practitioner I had called for treatment through prayer. First he comforted me with assurances of divine Love's uninterrupted care. Then he assured me he would pray for me immediately. Finally, he made this one request—that I know the truth.

Know the truth. It sounded easy enough. So I took the Bible, and Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (which I admit were a little dusty) and began going over the passages that had helped me as a child—the Lord's Prayer, the definitions of God and man in the Glossary of Science and Health, the ninety-first and twenty-third Psalms, and others. But several hours later, instead of feeling better, I was worse.

"It didn't work" was my first thought. I was tempted to just give up and try to get some sleep instead, when again came the directive even more strongly: know the truth. Then as a bright light Jesus' promise came to thought: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."^{ John 8:32;} I realized that this promise was also a command. And that I might as well obey it right now. I had to be honest, so I asked myself, Am I knowing— really knowing—the truth I have been reading, or am I merely going over it and saying the truth? And what exactly is the truth that I am to know?