Through much study of the Scriptures and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, my desire has been to put into practice what I've learned about God—that He is All and we are made in His likeness. One passage from Science and Health that is especially meaningful to me gives this definition of God: "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind;Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence" (p. 587). As I go about my day, I strive to express the divine qualities of compassion, gentleness, purity, integrity, kindness, and also to identify others in the light of their spiritual individuality.

This study and practice of Christian Science has resulted in many physical healings, as well as the resolution of relationship difficulties, and guidance in finding the right home.

A healing I'm particularly grateful for occurred about a year ago. One morning I woke up unable to breathe without severe pain. I knew I would find my remedy through prayer. I called a Christian Science practitioner for help in gaining a clearer understanding of my present wholeness as God's child. Together, we prayed by considering the spiritual facts of life—that because man and woman are created and maintained by God alone, every movement is an expression of Him; that the allness of God means the allness of good, since God is entirely good and perfect.

I also held to ideas found in a passage from Genesis, which declares us to be God's image and reveals what He confers on His children: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (1:26). I acknowledged that since God is all good, His reflection—including me—is entirely good, too. All my functions—moving, breathing, walking—reflect His strength and stability. Since there is nothing beyond the divine allness, nothing material, including the makeup of the physical body, can disturb or interfere with God's law of perpetual harmony.

After the third day of prayer, however, I was still not feeling at peace, nor was I able to move normally. I called the practitioner late at night. She lovingly reaffirmed, "Your life is of God, and that is all you can know or express." She said she would continue praying with me. When I hung up the phone, I attempted to breathe, but the pain was intense, as though I might not be able to continue breathing. Out loud, and with confidence, I stated, "Enough! God is my life and nothing else has power!" In the next moment, I knew without a twinge of doubt or fear that this was the only fact of my identity. Science and Health says, "God is everywhere, and nothing apart from Him is present or has power" (p. 473). The truth of those words gave me the dominion I'd been seeking.

Immediately, my breathing became normal. I was completely free of the pain. In the morning, I joyfully got out of bed and gratefully resumed my normal round of activities. Above all, I was grateful to feel and understand my spiritual identity with renewed joy and conviction.

There has been no recurrence of the condition. When I caught a new glimpse of my inseparable relationship with God, healing followed.

DITTE SETTERHOLM
GOLDEN VALLEY, MINNESOTA, US