You could say that Christian Science nursing found me, because at the time I discovered it, I was not looking for it and knew virtually nothing about. I was in my 20s and had been working in the commercial art field. But I was praying to know and feel the freshness and substantiality of God’s direction for me. These simple words filled my prayer: “God, if You want me to do art, then You will need to make me feel it in the deepest part of my being.”  

After moving across the country and starting some freelance artwork, much to my surprise (and I must admit, chagrin), I started working in the kitchen of a Christian Science nursing facility to make ends meet. I was a bit thrown by the inner nudges toward pursuing Christian Science nursing. I was sure there had been some mistake—“Just a moment, God, weren’t we just talking about art?” But there was an unmistakable impulsion to follow these promptings even as I battled my resistance to them. 

As I began my Christian Science nurses’ training, a passage in Science and Health opened to me what it meant to be an artist in the realm of spiritual ideas: “The sculptor turns from the marble to his model in order to perfect his conception. We are all sculptors, working at various forms, moulding and chiseling thought. What is the model before mortal mind? Is it imperfection, joy, sorrow, sin, suffering? Have you accepted the mortal model?” It continues: “We must form perfect models in thought and look at them continually, or we shall never carve them out in grand and noble lives. Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love—the kingdom of heaven—reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear” (p. 248). This is more than good advice. It heals. It has been indispensable in my work, where the demand is to faithfully turn to the truth about God and man and away from sometimes aggressive pictures of illness, sorrow, and discouragement, even while caring for the human need.  

The Christian Science nurse learns to bathe, feed, bandage wounds, and help with mobility needs while being alert to administering these skills with a fearless and expectant spiritual quality of thought. It is crucial to joyfully and confidently affirm when giving care the real spiritual identity of man—meaning all humanity—as the image and likeness of God. It is this nurturing that lifts Christian Science nursing to a spiritually sanctioned activity that liberates and comforts. 

No matter what material viewpoint seems to be present in the sickroom, the Christ—our constant advocate—silences those false voices. 

For me, the story in the Bible of the woman coming to Jesus for forgiveness is a nursing model (see Luke 7:37–50). Her mental state is one of turning away from a mortal sense of identity to the Christ, the divine nature of each of us.  

To me, this woman seems to feel God’s love and care for her so profoundly that it becomes all that matters to her, and pours out in this simple act of feet washing. Beyond the mere human act, it symbolizes a consecration to living a life that turns to God for everything. Although some days are better than others, I aspire to this in my nursing. It encourages me to understand that no matter what material viewpoint seems to be present in the sickroom, whether it is a medical opinion, the insistence of heredity, that it seems too late or hopeless, the Christ—our constant advocate—silences those false voices. 

At one point, I was nursing a woman of mature years who was struggling with mental confusion. Night after night, helping her prepare for bed was a huge struggle. I would finally finish with a lot of human effort and a residue of unhappiness and frustration for both of us. 

As I prayed, I knew that Love, God, as the infinite source of tender care, was ever present to show both of us that we were moving only in Love’s powerful presence. It became another moment of working out my salvation in the domain of my consciousness—thought by thought—instead of just getting from point A to point B. This released me from trying to figure out how to give care. 

One night I had the intuition to put out the things needed for her care one at a time and leave the room. Patiently I’d return again to get her started with something else, and she would steadfastly finish it. Eventually she got into bed—and best of all, peacefully. For as long as I helped this woman, getting into bed was no longer a problem. A small, but significant victory in which I watched God minister to both of us from start to finish and show me how to minister in this nursing situation.

I feel honored to do this work because it is caring for another with the deep desire to witness God’s care, which is at the heart of healing in Christian Science.