Article July 21, 1986 Issue

Christ comes to the flesh

ENID THACKERY

Christian Science encourages us in times of sickness to turn away from the body and its conditions. To one who is suffering, this may seem ludicrous. He may ask, "But what else is there?" Yet when we understand the premise of this approach, it is quite natural. It is basic to success in healing through prayer.

For example, some time ago one of my eyes had become totally inflamed and painful; my vision was impaired and I found any kind of light intolerable. My whole thought was riveted on the discomfort and the inconvenience. After several days, the Christian Science practitioner whom I had asked to help me urged me to study—really study—the definitions of two Bible terms given in the Glossary of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. One of the terms was Christ; the other was flesh. Mrs. Eddy defines Christ as "the divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error."^{Science and Health, p. 583.} Her definition of flesh reads, "An error of physical belief; a supposition that life, substance, and intelligence are in matter; an illusion; a belief that matter has sensation."^{Ibid., p. 586.}

As I pondered these two definitions, my priorities gradually changed. The most important question was no longer, "When is this eye going to be normal again so that I can comfortably get on with what I have to do?" It was, "What enlightenment needs to come to my consciousness about my real identity and substance?" I knew from my longtime study of this Science that I must turn away from the material body, however difficult this might seem. But my study helped me see more of why it is possible and practical to do this.

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