Article July 21, 2014 Issue

A man-lift and an answered prayer

Helen Jennings

I began to learn of Jesus’ teachings in Christian Science Sunday School. I learned that I could always turn to God, just as Jesus did, and that prayer is to be put to practical use in our everyday lives. As Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “Mystery does not enshroud Christ’s teachings, and they are not theoretical and fragmentary, but practical and complete; and being practical and complete, they are not deprived of their essential vitality” (p. 98).

A few years ago, I found myself needing to put prayer into practice in my life, as I’d done many times before. I was part owner in 17 rental properties, and rather unexpectedly, I found myself having to run them alone. It became quickly evident that proper maintenance had not been done on the buildings. I didn’t have the funds to hire a contractor and didn’t know how I was going to remedy everything.

The focus of my prayer turned to God, divine Principle. A child of God is principled, and I knew I needed to express this quality in dealing with the tenants. I did not have the skills or ability to do the maintenance work myself, but I knew that a right activity had the support of God. I started in on one kind of work I knew I could do—painting—and as I worked, I prayed.