I had traveled to Boston from New York to attend the Annual Meeting of The Mother Church and the related activities of the preceding weekend. This trip had felt entirely God-directed and was especially meaningful to me, as it represented a major step of progress in my spiritual growth and practice of Christian Science. 

I had been quietly cherishing this trip for months in advance and throughout the weekend. But there were some challenges. I chuckled to myself that the unofficial theme of my weekend was “overcoming resistance,” which came repeatedly in the form of self-condemnation and doubt. It started before I even got on the train, with the thought “Maybe I shouldn’t go.” And throughout the weekend I continued to struggle with thoughts such as “I’m not doing enough to contribute to this Cause. I’m not worthy of being here.” 

Then, on the morning of the meeting, I noticed that the entire white portion of one of my eyes was bright red. Immediately and without hesitation, I took a firm stand in my thinking: I would not be fearful, or impressed with the picture in the mirror. I would not look at my eye or worry about my vision. Instead, I thought, “What is it that sees? God sees.” And I knew that God, being all good, sees only good—health and harmony.

I saw this problem as resistance to what I had been hearing, and had been affirming for myself and for the world, all weekend: the healing efficacy of Christian Science. It felt to me as if each individual attending, whether from across the street or around the globe, were there to say, “Count me in. I’m part of this worldwide movement.” I would not be bullied from my place among these healers. I would continue right along, attending the meeting in a steadfast, undisturbed, joyful, peaceful, and calm manner. And that’s what I did. Within a couple of hours, whatever had been wrong was gone. The eye had resumed its normal state and has remained that way.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote in the Manual of The Mother Church, “I recommend that each member of this Church shall strive to demonstrate by his or her practice, that Christian Science heals the sick quickly and wholly, thus proving this Science to be all that we claim for it” (p. 92). As I took my place at Annual Meeting, I silently praised God for the opportunity to prove, on the spot, that Christian Science heals “quickly and wholly” and that I am equipped and worthy to do this work right alongside the many others faithfully practicing Christian Science each day. I am grateful to God for this and all the blessings and victories experienced during Annual Meeting weekend.

Pamela Cook 
New York, New York, US