I've grown up as a Christian Scientist, and there have been a variety...

DEBRA L. JONES

I've grown up as a Christian Scientist, and there have been a variety of healings in my life. One leaps to mind as marking a turning point, because in this instance, and for the first time, I was healed through my own prayer—I relied only on God to help me.

One afternoon when my family was preparing for dinner guests, I began to feel sharp stomach pains. My first reaction was, "I'm scared to death." My next thought was, "Go get Mom." However, I turned away from both of these suggestions and decided instead to act to help myself. I wanted to prove that I needed no human support, but could apply my own understanding of God and be healed.

I began reading the chapter entitled "Christian Science Practice" in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. The pain was so great that I could neither sit nor lie down. My only alternative was to pace the room as I read.

This chapter inspired me with an awareness that if you succeed in destroying fear of a problem, along with the belief that it is real, then the inharmonious physical manifestations will disappear also. Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 368): "Deny the existence of matter, and you can destroy the belief in material conditions. When fear disappears, the foundation of disease is gone."

This thought hit home in a way it never had before—it was clearly logical. Since I am created spiritually in God's image, the real me has no relation to a matter body that seems to be complaining of aches and pains. As a result, my fear naturally dissolved.

I continued to read until I came to this passage (ibid., p. 380): "The physical effects of fear illustrate its illusion. Gazing at a chained lion, crouched for a spring, should not terrify a man. The body is affected only with the belief of disease produced by so-called mind ignorant of the truth which chains disease. Nothing but the power of Truth can prevent the fear of error, and prove man's dominion over error."

This was all I needed. The light of Truth had dawned in consciousness and shown me that, ridiculously enough, I had been terrified of "a chained lion." Momentarily blinded by fear and the seeming reality of the pain, I had not looked beyond what the material senses were contending to see the spiritual reality of God's allness, which makes disease an impossibility. Now I could see that this fear was absolutely groundless.

Though I hadn't noticed when they had stopped, I realized that the stomach pains were totally gone. I was able to join my family and our guests and to eat with my usual hearty appetite.

What a joy to know that I am dependent only on God! I am thankful that I have the tools to cultivate a greater awareness of the divine Mind's sovereignty, as Jesus taught us to do centuries ago.

DEBRA L. JONES
Northbrook, Illinois

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Christian Science is a vital part of my life

November 3, 1980

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