‘I am a what?’

Molly Johnson

Over the summer, I worked as a counselor-in-training at a camp for Christian Scientists. During the first session, it seemed like there was a stomach bug going around—and I was one of the people who got it.

Besides not feeling well, I was very concerned I wouldn’t be able to be with my campers on their three-day camping trip.

The Christian Science practitioner at camp was praying for me. One day, as we were sitting together talking, he said, “You are a duck.”

My first thought was: I am a what?

He went on to tell me that this was an analogy, because ducks have an oil on their feathers that allows the feathers to repel water. He explained that in a similar way, my spiritual identity “repels” anything ungodlike. The fact that I am spiritual means nothing can touch or harm me.

We also looked at the definition of oil in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: “Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration” (p. 592 ). I could see how qualities like charity and gentleness are part of my spiritual nature and are my defense against suggestions of illness.

With that recognition, I was soon completely well, and later that day I was able to rejoin my program and participate in the three-day hike with no problems. Since then, whenever I need to remember the way God made me, I always think with a smile: “I am a duck.”

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