Testimony of Healing April 21, 1986 Issue

A few years ago, while on a picnic, I slipped on a stone near...

KATHLEEN E. MALLET

A few years ago, while on a picnic, I slipped on a stone near a river and fell heavily. I immediately declared the truth—that matter has no substance or intelligence to feel in any way. I was able to enjoy the rest of the day in comfort. The following day, though, I found it quite difficult to walk. My husband, who is not a Christian Scientist, became fearful that I might have injured my hip. He wanted me to have an X-ray, but I told him I was going to rely solely on God through Christian Science for healing.

As I prayed, I realized that unwittingly I had accepted the prevalent belief of dislocation. A number of friends and acquaintances had suffered hip injuries and had undergone operations. I had unthinkingly accepted this claim as real for them and had let a false sense of sympathy for them encroach on my thought. Now I corrected these false impressions with the truth of man's completeness as God's idea, never subject to accident. Continuing to pray, I realized the powerlessness of this false belief of dislocation to attach itself to any of God's ideas. With the help of a Christian Science practitioner, I was able to gain a clearer sense of man's exemption from such world beliefs and fears.

I learned a great deal during this experience, and it helped me to understand more of what it means to "pray without ceasing" (I Thess. 5:17). We need to watch our thinking all the time—like a vigilant porter—and constantly to turn away every belief of life in matter, at the same time letting in all the true perceptions of man as the complete, spiritual reflection of God, good. Page 392 of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy includes this instruction: "Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously."