Testimony of Healing October 27, 1997 Issue

With the help of a friend who is a Christian Science practitioner...

Lynda K. Palmer

With the help of a friend who is a Christian Science practitioner, I was beginning to understand that a breathing problem I was experiencing was no part of a Christian Science church service. This was because the only activity that could possibly be present was the harmonious action of God's law expressing itself through every aspect of the service, including those participating in it. As the Bible says, "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord" (Jer. 23:24). I had asked her for treatment because I was concerned about whether I would be able to perform my duties as First Reader for the Wednesday evening testimony meeting. The problem had presented itself quite suddenly, and it had frightened me. My friend agreed to pray for me during the meeting, and reminded me that only what is provided for in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy could be part of the service.

I went back to the room I use in preparing for the service. I began to think, "Exactly what does the Manual have to say?" A copy of the book was in the bookstand on the desk, and I opened it to "A Rule for Motives and Acts." The first sentence reads, "Neither animosity nor mere personal attachment should impel the motives or acts of the members of The Mother Church" (Art. VIII, Sect 1). I realized immediately that action could not be influenced by animosity, whether malicious or ignorant. The next sentence of this rule begins, "In Science, divine Love alone governs man...." I saw that divine Love, God, was responsible for preserving the peace and harmony of the meeting and was governing man, leaving me free of any interference from any source. The difficulty disappeared within five minutes.

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