I had twisted my knee, and my leg had become very swollen. I was unable to bend my knee, and my mobility was restricted. This happened at a time when I was serving as the president of an organization and, as such, was responsible for representing the organization publicly. I also sing in two choirs, and we were preparing for a national singing event, which required additional time for practice.

One thing was certain to me: The physical problem was actually mental in nature, and the healing would come through a shift in thought from material concepts to spiritual truths. I called a Christian Science practitioner for treatment through prayer. From experience I know that treatment from a practitioner helps to still any mental turmoil. During the daily conversations that followed, we affirmed the spiritual facts of being: that there is only one reality, God’s reality, which is spiritual, inviolable, perfect, changeless, and eternally reflects God’s allness, omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. The divine inspiration that was coming to us also unmasked and uncovered the false claims of life in matter—claims that one can be injured, unable to function, and unable to fulfill one’s duties.

I affirmed that the material senses cannot communicate; they can’t say anything about us or hold any power over Truth, God, or God’s man. Mortal mind, the mentality that opposes God’s supremacy, can neither define me nor characterize me because it has no knowledge of spiritual man. It is a deception, an illusion. I saw that the belief that the physical body is true substance needs to be given up in order to place all trust in God and to recognize His spiritual reflection, man.

Divine law maintains the spiritual, compound idea, man, in eternal perfection. As Mary Baker Eddy writes of man in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas; …” (p. 475). The qualities of functionality, mobility, and usefulness are expressed by man and anchored in the Divine, in God, Spirit, and not subject to material circumstances. 

I imbibed—and accepted—the truth that I never for an instant could be less than a perfect spiritual idea, the reflection of God. As these spiritual facts became my constant companions, I was able to meet all my obligations. Within a couple of days I was completely healed. There was no more swelling of my leg or difficulty bending my knee, and my mobility was restored. In fact, the entire experience felt like a dream!

Nonetheless, one concern I had was that those who had noticed me dealing with the physical challenge would hold in their thought the discordant picture of my leg. I felt this might affect me negatively. But this concern was also met with the truth; I reasoned that if we are all ideas of God, governed by divine Mind, nobody could have ever seen me as anything but perfect. There never was a moment when God did not govern. I felt comforted by these spiritual facts and was no longer fearful about the thoughts of others.

Shortly before I was to perform in the choir, a thought crept in: “What if I’m not able to walk with stability?” But an ensuing conversation with the practitioner wiped all doubts away. I was reassured that divine Truth keeps each of its ideas in absolute perfection. Strength and stability are not variable but forever expressed in man.

This spiritual understanding had an immediate harmonizing effect on me. I felt an increasing sense of calm and trust, and all fear left. When the day of the public performance arrived, this verse from Psalm 91 became my companion: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (verse 11). It felt as if these words had been written just for me!

The members of our choir were asked to spread out on a wooden structure, about five levels high, and we entered the stage in single file. I led the group that was assigned to the fifth level. I walked up to our level and made my way to the back without any fear or unstableness, filled with deepest joy over this freedom.

I’m profoundly grateful for Christian Science practitioners, for healing in Christian Science, which I have known since a child, and that each victory we have in Christian Science comes through the spiritualization of our consciousness. 

Christa Ennoch-Boppart
Büren an der Aare, Switzerland

Original German text translated into English for publication.