Freed from fear and immobility during hike

When I was serving The First Church of Christ, Scientist, as International Communication Coordinator for my home country, the Philippines, I sometimes traveled to remote areas to meet with informal groups of Christian Scientists. Hiking was the only way to reach some of these communities. 

On the first day of one trip, I hiked for more than eight hours. The second day included walking through the woods, climbing rocky mountains, and crossing hanging bridges. After nine hours of hiking, I reached a point where the bushes and grasses were so dense and tall, I could hardly make my way through. No sooner had I found a way through than I felt a cramp in my leg. I was overcome by fear, for I could not even lift my leg and was alone in the middle of nowhere. I still had an estimated two hours of hiking to go, and it was beginning to get dark. I thought, “Who can help me? Will I ever get out of this situation?” Shouts for help were unlikely to be heard, and I could not take a step forward. I thought of calling family or friends on my mobile phone, but it felt so hopeless because they were too far away to help me. 

My phone had a few hymns recorded on it, and when I played them, what I heard gave me strength. The words “Call upon His holy name” (Harriet Auber, Christian Science Hymnal, No. 281) freed me from the feeling that I couldn’t get help. Right where I was, I called on God, turning to Him in prayer. As I was praying, I felt peace and was able to imbibe the spirit of those few words from the hymn. I started to gain an awareness of spiritual strength—the power to cling to what I know about the relation of God and man as coexistent. This awakened me from the false belief of helplessness and hopelessness. It reminded me of what I had learned of Christian Science from my early years in Sunday School—that I can never be separated from the love of God. As Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes, “Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated from God, and obey only the divine Principle, Life and Love” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 91).