Testimony of Healing May 30, 2005 Issue

A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BRINGS HEALING

MELISSA WHITMORE

Each week at the Wednesday evening testimony meetings in the branch Church of Christ, Scientist, I was attending, the First Reader would say, "Divine Love has brought you here tonight." I felt so loved by those words—that divine Love, God, was calling me. I wondered how many others felt called by those words, too.

I had been studying Christian Science for many years. I had become a member of The Mother Church in Boston. But I'd never joined one of its branch churches. I didn't feel the need. For a long time, however, I had felt a disconnect in my life—between the spiritual self I heard about at church and who I was during the week. Trying to be sharp and witty at work really only made me seem sarcastic and not very caring much of the time. I also didn't feel I handled day-to-day issues with calm and grace. I wanted it to be second nature to turn to God during the day, rather than just willfully pushing through challenges to find a solution. I wanted to get a spiritual perspective on circumstances as they occurred, rather than after they'd become issues. I would pray in the morning, and then go on autopilot for the rest of the day. Later, I'd mentally beat up on myself for missed opportunities or perceived mistakes.

I was attending those Wednesday testimony meetings regularly, but rarely attended Sunday services. I justified this with excuses like, "I work hard all week and deserve having my weekends to myself. I don't want to give up this time for anything. I read the Weekly Bible Lesson—that's enough." Sunday mornings were to sleep late and read the paper!

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

FROM THE EDITORS

YOUR RIGHT TO QUIET