Keeping company with angels
One day, about a year ago, I woke early, but was unable to get up because I felt very dizzy. As I lay in bed, I thoughtfully prayed with some ideas I like to think about before getting up in the morning. I especially focused on the Lord’s Prayer (see Matthew 6:9–13 ) and its spiritual interpretation, which Mary Baker Eddy gives in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (pp. 16–17 ). This prayer is always so familiar and comforting.
About half an hour later, I tried to get up again but could not. My head was swimming, and I was afraid I might fall over. I reached for my iPod and lay there listening to the weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson. The subject was “Christ Jesus.” I listened thoughtfully to every word, claiming the spiritual truths stated as facts of my being and recognizing the spiritual identity of man, which was so clearly expressed through Jesus’ ministry.
Soon, my husband came to see why I was not up as early as usual. I was so grateful that he gave me some much-needed support. When he went to make me something to drink, I managed to sit at the edge of the bed and gain some balance. I declared “the scientific statement of being” many times to myself. This statement ends with, “… man is not material; he is spiritual” (Science and Health, p. 468 ). This helped me claim my established relationship as God’s loved child, not a suffering mortal.
When my husband came back, he told me he was praying with the spiritual meaning of Church, which Mary Baker Eddy provides in the Glossary of Science and Health. Mrs. Eddy explains that Church is “The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle,” and that the utility of Church is in “the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick” (p. 583 ).
I was scheduled to work in my branch church’s Christian Science Reading Room that day and had just ushered at our church’s Wednesday evening testimony meeting the night before. I knew that these activities rested on divine Principle and could only bless. With these facts firmly in our thinking, my husband and I expected a full healing.
With some effort, I washed and dressed. However, I became nauseated and didn’t feel well enough to serve in the Reading Room that morning or go to the theater with a neighbor in the afternoon, as I’d previously promised.
I called a Christian Science practitioner, explained my situation, and asked for her prayerful help. I felt very reassured and calm, as if I had invited a friend to help me clear out a cluttered room. Then I sat in our guest room, closed my eyes, and reached out in prayer to feel God’s love for me. I knew I could trust Father-Mother God to clear the mental mess of false thoughts that were telling me I was sick. I knew that once these thoughts were cleared out of my consciousness, I would find peace.
I fell asleep for several minutes, and when I woke up, I no longer felt sick or dizzy. I called the practitioner to say I felt well enough to serve in the Reading Room, but would appreciate her continued support to give me the confidence to know that the healing was complete. I hadn’t eaten breakfast, so I ate a little mid-morning snack. I had a happy time serving with a fellow church member in the Reading Room.
We listened to that day’s “Daily Lift” on christianscience.com, “Safe Journey” by Lindsey Taylor. Lindsey described the promise in Exodus: “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared” (23:20, New King James Version). Lindsey asked her listeners lovingly if there are angels to guide us and keep us safe today. “Yes, certainly there are,” she said. “You can feel safe, because everywhere you go, you go in the ‘company of angels’ [see Hebrews 12:22 ].”
This Daily Lift was a perfect and gentle message that spoke directly to me—a promise that all was well and under God’s care. I had an overwhelming sense of God’s love and tenderness, which I knew would accompany me and my neighbor—the neighbor whom I’d made plans with to go to the theater that afternoon. I felt ready to move forward.
I phoned my neighbor, told her I felt better, and that I would love to go to the musical with her. I ate a little more at the theater, and my neighbor was most thoughtful but did not fuss over me. When she asked about my sickness that morning, I explained I had asked for Christian Science treatment from a practitioner and had experienced healing, whereas others might have made the choice to call a doctor. I told my neighbor I was grateful we had been able to spend such a fun time together, especially since such an outing had been quite out of the question earlier in the day.
After returning from the outing, I called to thank the practitioner and to share my joy. I feel so grateful for this proof of God’s care, for feeling God’s love and presence and witnessing another example of the healing power of Christian Science.
Janet Bland
Shepperton, Surrey, England
