Dislocated shoulder healed
I was heading downstairs and missed a step. I slipped and toppled down the full flight, landing forcefully on one arm. When the commotion ended, a flood of thoughts began forming about what had happened. I could see—and feel from the extreme pain—that my right shoulder was dislocated. Right along with a fear of not knowing how I would fix my shoulder came a split-second moment when I realized that I could never be out of God’s control or care.
I continued praying even though I didn’t feel in control at all. My 13-year-old son came running and asked if I was all right. He immediately went to my laptop, which had gone flying during the incident, to make sure it wasn’t damaged. I recall, ever so fleetingly, how funny that was (and yet now I relish the idea that he didn‘t think of me as fallen or injured).
I spent the next moment affirming the truth of my inseparability from God. Suddenly I found myself attempting, without planning, to get up off the stairs. As I did this, still praying, the shoulder popped back in place quickly and painlessly. Then I began laughing at the mental image I had of myself falling. The fall replayed itself like a movie skit, and it was so comical! The more I laughed, the more dreamlike the situation became, and the pain faded proportionately.
I realized that I was free from thinking that my dignity, uprightness, security, and safety as God’s spiritual idea, or man, had anything to do with the human body. The suggestion that man’s true qualities can be brought into question because of a mistaken step or “laws” of physics, such as gravity, couldn’t tempt me to believe that my well-being—my oneness with God—could be compromised, even for a moment. God’s law of good in action had certainly proved supreme.
This healing was so clear and complete that it left me with a desire to be obedient to God, rather than following my personal agenda for the day. I’d had plans to take my son horseback riding. I knew my healing was complete and that I could make the ride, but I wanted my day to be governed by listening to God, not relying on human reasoning. I sat still and prayed.
The thought came clearly to me to remain at home. This decision may sound so easy, but I was most grateful for the complete freedom to be governed by Love’s direction alone.
In the past I’ve struggled with simple choices, feeling obligations in different directions, delaying decisions. But this time I didn’t feel personally obligated to the barn I’d booked the trip with or to my son or to myself (for a day full of one of my most favorite activities). I felt only the obligation to be guided by wisdom and truth.
I’m so very grateful for this mental freedom and strength gained from the study of Jesus’ teachings, as explained in Christian Science. As a student of this Science, I know I am entrusting my well-being to God and God alone, and not to human theories and opinions learned from physicality. It’s our thoughts that lead us to a just understanding of our spiritual nature as God’s man, and therefore enable the demonstration of health and harmony.
The best part of this healing was the freedom to understand how each of us is harmoniously governed by God. This is the guidance I pray to know is mine each day as I strive to practice these words of Christ Jesus, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42 ).
Allison D. Eggers
Town and Country, Missouri, US
About the author
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