This sentence in Science and Health has often been my guide...

Jim Fabian

This sentence in Science and Health has often been my guide when I am planning trips: "To begin rightly is to end rightly" (p. 262). My concept of beginning rightly is to acknowledge the ever-presence and omnipotence of God, divine Mind, as being in control at all times.

Before leaving for an African safari, my wife and I needed to have yellow fever shots to ensure readmittance to the United States should an epidemic break out in any of the countries we would visit. I recalled the only experience I'd had with shots: when I was in the military, after shots were administered I experienced a sore arm and several of the recruits in my group fainted. At the time, I thought of this verse in Psalms: "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee" (91:7). I was completely protected from ill effects, and the soreness was healed, too. All the men recovered.

When praying about the shot for the trip, we acknowledged that matter has no reality or sensation and that mortal mind's erroneous suggestions are silenced by the truth that man is God's spiritual idea, not subject to discord. When the shot was administered, there was no sensation nor did soreness develop.

During the trip, I developed a mild case of diarrhea. I gave little thought to it, until I experienced an instance that caused me some distress. Then I realized that I was accepting the condition as not only real but acceptable! I was grateful that the error had been exposed. From that moment on, every time the belief of illness came to thought, I prayed by specifically affirming that there is no record of sickness in the history of the perfect man of God's creating. The healing was complete in a short time.

Fear of heights overcome; travel plans proceed harmoniously.

We planned a hot-air balloon ride to view wildlife. I recalled an incident when I experienced acute fear of heights when climbing a fire spotter's tower. I was concerned that this fear would recur and ruin the flight. As I prayed, I realized that man can never be separated from God's love. I soon felt as though God's arms were around me, supporting me and keeping me—and everyone in our party—peaceful and safe. The ride was delightfully uplifting.

Shortly after our group arrived at the airport to leave for home, an announcement was made that the facility was closed because of a blocked runway. If the first leg of our return trip was delayed more than a few hours, we would miss our connecting flight. The plane left five hours late, which meant it would arrive at the transfer city an hour after the second plane had left. I continued to pray, knowing there were no delays in divine Mind—the only intelligence. The plane made up about an hour's time during the flight and pulled up next to the connecting plane's departure gate. We were escorted onto the second plane by an airline employee, and the connecting flight took off only a few minutes behind schedule. We arrived home on time.

I am grateful to have proved that man is never in need of healing, because he is perfect. Our only need is for a deeper understanding of this fact.

Jim Fabian
Laguna Hills, California

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