'God does not afflict'

Edwin G. Leever

Some years ago, quite suddenly, whenever I'd have to go to the bathroom, there would be evidence of intestinal bleeding. It would stop for a while, but would recur. The situation frightened me, and I started wondering, "What if ...?" But I had just accepted an invitation to give a series of lectures on Christian Science, which involved going around the world on a three-and-a-half-month tour. I was very much looking forward to this work.

Because I was so used to turning to prayer when challenges arose, and finding healing, I began to pray about the condition. It didn't occur to me to have it diagnosed medically. From the time the condition first occurred, I prayed to perceive more clearly the truth that my identity was spiritual—in and of God. I mentally affirmed that, as the image of God, whom Mary Baker Eddy defined in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as Spirit, Love, Mind, I was created with no flaw in me, on me, or about me. This condition hadn't come from God—therefore I didn't have to accept it as true. It had no validity and no power over me whatsoever.

As the time to leave on the trip approached, I continued to pray. I knew that no bodily malfunction or disturbance could stop me from doing good work. Letting spiritual understanding guide me, I saw that the divine Mind was in full control of this tour, as well as of my health and well-being. As I persisted in the prayer of holding my thoughts to these spiritual facts, my fear left me, and I went ahead with preparing for the trip.

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