One of the best ways of growing in Christian Science is applying to ourselves, in our own circumstances, whatever spiritual verities we have already learned—even though they may seem to be meager. Nothing is more spiritually rewarding than proving for ourselves that our hold on Christian Science is authentic and workable.

There's great reassurance in knowing that we can have with us at all times and in all conditions that which heals: spiritual understanding. The healings that come about through our own prayer, then, are an indispensable part of our development as Christian Scientists.

Not only can we heal ourselves if we're willing to accept what healing involves—but we have the opportunity. Who among us can look around our lives and find that everything is just right? We are all having presented to us right now openings for practicing what we are learning of Science. To be sure, the right motive is essential: to discover more of God and man. And, "A deep sincerity is sure of success, for God takes care of it," ^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 203;} Mary Baker Eddy writes.

So, you—under God's direction—can do it. A first requirement, whether treatment is for ourselves or others, is to allay fear. We may come up against the claim that it's harder to be rid of our own fear than another's. But man is the expression of Love, as Christ Jesus' healing work shows. Fear is never the real man's fear. Mortal mind, material suggestion claiming to be ours, would try to insinuate itself into our consciousness. Fearing its own extinction, it would make us fear it and so leave it alone. Our victory over fear is assured, fear's downfall is inevitable, to the degree we handle it firmly and scientifically, with the conviction of its illegitimacy, its powerlessness over the child of God.

Healing ourselves brings us face to face with the quality of our thinking. This can be salutary. Working out a problem can be a valuable litmus test, showing where we really stand in Christian Science. Are we just an occasional user of Science, looking to it when things go wrong? Or do we accept both its privileges and demands with equal eagerness? And when the sun is shining in our lives as well as on the dark days? In working for ourselves, we might also realize—more than at other times—the necessity for the spirit of Christian Science to go hand in hand with its letter.

Perhaps we are tempted to believe that treatment is somewhat mysterious. This could make us hesitant to take on the task of curing ourselves. Among the multitude of statements we'll find in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and the other writings of Mrs. Eddy that throw light on the nature of prayer and treatment is this succinct pointer to what Christian Science treatment is and does: "Reason, rightly directed, serves to correct the errors of corporeal sense; but sin, sickness, and death will seem real (even as the experiences of the sleeping dream seem real) until the Science of man's eternal harmony breaks their illusion with the unbroken reality of scientific being." ^{Science and Health, p. 494;}

Whatever the trouble or disease that would attach itself to us, it is illusion. "Reason, rightly directed"—spiritually based prayer—will challenge illusion and break it. The sickness or sin we're praying about may seem to us terribly convincing. It usually does. But it is, nevertheless, illusion and can never be anything more. We can affirm that as the idea of divine Love, we're not a screen on which illusory pictures can be projected. In our actual Godlike identity we're outside illusion, and it is outside us. As we admit such truths, then piece by piece our work will correct the errors that claim to belong to us.

In coming to know Truth rightly and so finding the confidence to treat ourselves, we can refuse to be overwhelmed by the job at hand. Solving any problem through Christian Science, for ourselves or another, we're not suddenly faced with having to overpower every claim of mortality and evil. We are applying universal divine laws, but to particular beliefs. Then, we should stick to that task. We can apply to ourselves this rule, given by Mrs. Eddy: "When treating a patient, it is not Science to treat every organ in the body. To aver that harmony is the real and discord is the unreal, and then give special attention to what according to their own belief is diseased, is scientific; and if the healer realizes the truth, it will free his patient." ^{Rudimental Divine Science, p. 13;} Approaching treatment for ourselves accordingly, we will be freed.

Inspiration is pivotal in all Christian Science treatment. It means our feeling the truths of perfect God and man with such depth and certainty we know that God is Love; that He is always present; that man can manifest nothing but what comes from God; that we are manifesting the total perfection of Deity with no gaps or lapses at all. It means not budging from the conviction that our real self in God's likeness has always been above, beyond, any claim of mortal mind. Inspiration means carrying our insights into absolute truth right to the daily round. Moreover, we should aim for continuity of inspiration.

One of Paul's experiences is an outstanding and instructive example of healing oneself. A poisonous snake was driven by the heat from some wood Paul had gathered and put onto a fire. This viper fastened itself on his hand. The people watching were shaken and expected the worst. Paul himself apparently remained calm. He was unaffected by the bite. ^{See Acts 28:3-6 .}

This whole incident seems to be characterized by simplicity and quickness. But Paul coped with things as he did because of his maintained spirituality and his steady dedication to immortal values. He was living as inspiredly as he could before this challenge faced him. He had worked resolutely through some rugged times and toughened his fearlessness. His shaking the snake into the fire—his immediate destroying of an aggressive belief—is a telling example for us. We will emulate it to the extent our own spiritual preparedness approximates Paul's.

The Christ, Truth, is as available to us as it is to anyone else. And we can prove that. While we may on many occasions call on a spiritually-minded Christian Scientist—a practitioner listed in The Christian Science Journal, or perhaps a friend—for aid in healing, we should be wide-awake to the opportunities and the ability we have to heal ourselves.

GEOFFREY J. BARRATT