Testimony of Healing July 11, 1983 Issue

One night some months ago I was severely challenged

OLIVE BROWN ERSKINE with contributions from KENNETH G. ERSKINE

One night some months ago I was severely challenged. With the exception of the hand, one arm became immovable. I was in pain and could not sleep. Immediately I affirmed my perfect, spiritual selfhood as a loved child of God. I also acknowledged the ever-presence of the Christ, Truth. Yet after hours of continued prayerful work, I felt I had not even reached first base! Still, I refused to accept defeat. Aloud, I started declaring basic truths of Christian Science, until my thought grew more spiritualized.

Then came three words: "I cannot hurt." And I thought of the divine Ego. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Mary Baker Eddy tells us that the "I, or Ego" is "divine Principle; Spirit; Soul; incorporeal, unerring, immortal, and eternal Mind" (p. 588). I felt I was being told that there is nothing in the "I, or Ego," divine Mind, that could possibly contain any kind of hurt or discomfort. And since my true selfhood is included in the infinity of divine Mind's allness, I could not possibly be touched by any kind of hurt. I then remembered that some time previously I had allowed myself to be deeply hurt by the words of another. The nothingness of the whole experience, in light of the spiritual truths I had just pondered, was now evident to me, and I slept peacefully.

The next morning was Sunday. The thought came, "Yes, you are comfortable, but you won't be able to make it to church." Yet I knew I could go. I dressed laboriously. Then the thought came, "Yes, you will make it to church all right, but you won't be able to fulfill your assignment as usher." But I knew I could usher. By the time I reached church I was able to use my elbow. With one hand I could hold the copies of the Christian Science Quarterly I was to distribute, and I could open and close a heavy door with the other hand.

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