In the past year alone, I have experienced many wonderful changes in my life through the study of Christian Science. I have been healed of shyness and a lack of ease in public speaking; relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and church members have grown more warm and trusting; and my home is brighter and more ordered.

There was a time when I was unable to sit still comfortably for long periods of time. At concerts, films, and formal occasions I suffered from restlessness and anxiety to the extent that when I got home I had to lie down to recuperate from the activity. Also my concentration was not good.

Healing came about naturally, beginning with the study of the Christian Science Bible Lessons. Progressing from doing one section of the lesson each day, to reading the entire lesson at one sitting, I became increasingly able to sit still and concentrate with ease. Familiarity with the lesson helped me to remain more attentive during Christian Science church services. But this healing came from something deeper than just reading the lesson; the realization of spiritual truths changed my daily life for the better. The healing is complete. I can sit still for hours with no discomfort whatsoever, and my concentration is excellent.

Another healing occurred after I had been studying Christian Science for over a year. A bald spot appeared on my scalp, right at the hairline. By changing my hairstyle slightly, I was able to hide the spot from sight, and only my hairdresser and family were aware of it.

Soon after noticing the bald spot, I read this line in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy: "...the beliefs of material existence are seen to be a bald imposition...." [The full sentence reads, "The calm, strong currents of true spirituality, the manifestations of which are health, purity, and self-immolation, must deepen human experience, until the beliefs of material existence are seen to be a bald imposition, and sin, disease, and death give everlasting place to the scientific demonstration of divine Spirit and to God's spiritual, perfect man."] Because of the bald spot, the phrase really caught my attention. I acknowledged the truth of the statement and immediately sought to know what material beliefs were holding sway over me. The dictionary definition of bald gave me a direction: "Lacking a natural or usual covering; undisguised, blunt; lacking ornament."

Reading the Bible one day, I was thrilled to find the Psalmist speaking of God as "clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment." Reasoning that if God's nature as revealed in the psalm were so majestic, then my nature as God's likeness had these qualities and could contain nothing dull, unpleasant, or unnatural.

Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the truer reflection of God and lifted their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow,—thoughts which presented man as fallen, sick, sinning, and dying." Working with a Christian Science practitioner, I saw the need to increase the purity, elegance, and humility with which I expressed myself.

I began by preparing more thoroughly for my work. I began to speak with more clarity and confidence, taking care to soften my tone, and to hold back from blurting out exactly what came to mind at all times. More joy in behaving graciously and in serving others followed, as did more care for my appearance. I was happy to see new hair growing in where the bald spot had been, and grateful for the spiritual understanding that brought change.

Several years ago, while getting off a bus, I stepped into a pothole in the street and fell, landing on my back with my foot twisted under me. Immediately the gist of this statement from Science and Health came into my thought, so that I could think of nothing else: "When an accident happens, you think or exclaim, 'I am hurt!' Your thought is more powerful than your words, more powerful than the accident itself, to make the injury real

"Now reverse the process. Declare that you are not hurt and understand the reason why...."

Concerned strangers came to my aid, and one helped me to cross the street. At the corner I continued on alone, thinking only of Mrs. Eddy's words. Once at school, I climbed three flights of stairs and taught piano all afternoon.

My students required my full attention. But later, when I remembered what had happened, I consciously reaffirmed that I was not hurt and endeavored to really know that God is All. There was no pain. When I got home, however, I was not consistent and shared the event with my family, showing them my foot. I realized that although I wanted to deny the reality of an accident, I also wanted to impress the family by showing them how bad the injury was!

Mrs. Eddy characterizes this kind of thinking as "mental miasma." This term occurs in the following passage from Science and Health: "Science shows that material, conflicting mortal opinions and beliefs emit the effects of error at all times, but this atmosphere of mortal mind cannot be destructive to morals and health when it is opposed promptly and persistently by Christian Science. Truth and Love antidote this mental miasma, and thus invigorate and sustain existence."

I resolved to be as persistent in opposing the evidence of swelling and discoloration as I had been prompt in opposing pain. This required constant vigilance on my part, and I was faithful, until no evidence of the injury remained at all. There was no doubt left about the ability of God, divine Mind, to heal.

I am very grateful to be a student of Christian Science. It has changed my life by giving me divine rules to live by.

Milika Nevarez
New York, New York