My 'Eutychus' moment

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy came into my life as a beacon of light, bringing me a sense of harmony and peace. I have learned from this book the love, wisdom, and power that God manifests in our lives.

Christian Science has been more than a religion to me. I have learned that it is a way of life that delivers us from limitations. The study of Science and Health also helps us to discover new facets of our relationship with God as His children. Through studying this Science, we can prove that we are truly made in His image and likeness and overcome challenges that involve our health or our relationships.

There is a verse from Psalms that I always keep in mind, “Renew a right spirit within me” (51:10 ). I love the word renew, because I feel that when I make a mistake, or think or say something wrong, God is right there to help me purify and renew my thoughts.

Also, the daily study of the Christian Science Bible Lesson helps me keep a receptive thought to perceive the ideas of divine Mind whenever I face any problem. These clear explanations of the power and love of God give me strength and the certainty that God sustains me.

One day many years ago, I was able to see God’s care and love while attending a business meeting with the board of my Christian Science branch church. A natural water spring runs under the foundation of our church. When it rains, the water level rises, and though we have a sump pump, we need to keep an eye on the water level. And so I went with other members of the board to check. I went ahead, rather hastily, groping in the dark to find the light switch so I could see the stairs to go down to the basement. Suddenly, I realized I’d gone by the switch while walking in the dark. I walked into the air and fell.

That morning I had been praying and studying the Christian Science Bible Lesson. I remember that I had clearly seen the importance of not accepting the belief of death or that there could be an unsolvable challenge. It was very clear in my mind that all problems can be solved by persistently praying and studying to realize our oneness with God.

There is a distance of about two meters from the bottom of the stairs to the opposite wall of the room. According to my colleagues, I hit my head against that wall and fainted. The impact caused my head to bleed profusely. My colleagues carried me up to the first floor and placed me on an armchair where I regained consciousness. I asked them what had happened, and they assured me that everything was fine, that they had been praying, firmly holding in thought that man is the perfect, complete, child of God, and that man can suffer no accidents because man never ceases to be under God’s care and protection.

A similar experience happened to a young man called Eutychus in the Bible. While listening to the Apostle Paul giving a talk, Eutychus, who was sitting on the window of a third floor with a group of people, fell asleep and fell to the street, where he was taken up dead. Paul calmed his friends saying: “Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.” He hugged the young man and raised him with the certainty that it is God who gives, sustains, and maintains life. Soon Eutychus was perfectly well (see Acts 20 ).

I think something similar happened with me, because my friends had spiritual courage, that inner strength that compelled them to lift me up in their thought, understanding that, as a child of God, I could not be a victim of an adverse situation. So it all worked harmoniously. After a short while, the wound stopped bleeding, and I had no discomfort. So we were able to finish the meeting without a problem.

For me, it was a proof of God’s care, considering that the height between the ground floor and the basement was considerable. It was the prayer of my friends that helped me regain consciousness and stop the bleeding. I felt very protected, and it was like coming to life again.

I live with my mom, who is a senior, and when she learned of the incident, and because she was afraid of the consequences of the fall, she asked me to go to the hospital and have a checkup. She said she was not going to be able to sleep until she knew I was well. The bleeding had stopped and I felt no pain. While I was not given any medicine, I did get nine stitches in my head. The wound healed in a few days. There were no further consequences of the accident.

This experience was to me another proof that God is my Life and that divine action is ever present and good. I learned that nothing can take away from me that spiritual and perpetual gift God has given me.

God always answers our needs, and for me, sharing this experience is a hymn to life.

Stella González de Blencowe
Montevideo, Uruguay