Our occasional series on how people have nurtured their public practice of Christian Science healing.
I absolutely had to do it
Eagerly, I started to study this Science. As a result, my thinking radically changed. And very gradually, almost unnoticeably at first, my life became brighter and brighter. It took a few years before I finally got back on my feet financially. But I had gained the absolute certainty that God’s help is always present and that I would be able to apply this fact to all future situations. I had found the universal remedy.
During this time copies of The Herald of Christian Science (Der Herold der Christlichen Wissenschaft) were a great support to me. Again and again, I found exactly the articles I needed right at the moment I needed them. With awe I also read how Christian Science practitioners devote their time to helping others through prayer. This information fascinated me, but I would’ve been unable to explain why.
Recently, I heard a mountaineer on TV say about a certain mountain: “That’s a mountain that I have always looked at as a child—I don’t know why. There are mountains that just draw you to them, and then one has absolutely got to climb them.” Maybe it was the fact that I, too, absolutely had to do this and become a Christian Science practitioner? Also, I always read with great interest interviews in which practitioners described how they found their way into the public practice, although these reports made me sad at the same time because people often talked about how they had grown up in Christian Science families or had at least attended a Christian Science Sunday School. There seemed to be no way for me to ever gain this foundation.
I gained an absolute certainty that God's help is always present.
In the meantime, my understanding of Christian Science grew, and I was frequently able to heal myself when I had a physical need. I also took class instruction in Christian Science and joined a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, as well as The Mother Church. Can you imagine my surprise when a member of my church asked me to pray for her? I began to pray, and I must admit that I was somewhat surprised when she was healed only a few days later and thanked me for my prayer.
The way I felt at that moment must have been how Moses felt when he stood in front of the burning thorn bush! (See Exodus 3:3, according to German Luther Bible.) At least I cannot describe it with words. Could it really be God’s plan that I was to become a Christian Science healer? I now earnestly considered this. I confided in an experienced practitioner and she advised me to reserve a regular time every week for the Christian Science practice. This is what I did. And I began to pray first for myself, then for my family and friends, and then for the world. It was not clear to me, however, how just by my sitting quietly in my “closet” (see Matthew 6:6) and praying, other people would know that I was ready for the practice. But that was exactly what happened.
People started calling me and asking for support. I found increasing joy in praying for others. And when they called to tell me how this prayer had helped, I was really happy. The number of requests increased, and one day the question arose: “Shall I advertise or not?” There is a huge difference between answering the question, “Would you pray for me?” with a “Yes” and offering your services publicly. In the end it was my Christian Science teacher who encouraged me to take the step. I applied for advertising in The Christian Science Journal and Der Herold, and I was never sorry that I did.
Being a Christian Science practitioner fills me with joy. Healing through prayer is a wonderful experience again and again. I can imagine no better activity.
