Recovery from back injury

I am so grateful for the online Wednesday testimony meetings broadcast from The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, and for all who make these church services possible. 

A few weeks ago, the readings were on spiritual light and included this verse from Isaiah: “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled” (50:11). I thought this was humorous, because for several months in South Africa we have been experiencing up to 14 hours a day without power due to planned electrical blackouts by our state-owned energy utility. 

The morning after the service, I needed to get a generator running so we would have power. All the while, I was expressing a lot of anger at everyone and everything, especially at the government and at my husband, who was frequently working very long hours away from home at times like this when I needed him.

While I was moving the extremely heavy generator, I felt a crack in my back and suddenly couldn’t move. As I sat on the floor feeling sorry for myself, I began to reflect on the readings from the service. I was reminded that God is the source of all true light and that this light is spiritual and inextinguishable. We can’t be without it because Spirit, God, fills all space. 

Two other Bible verses then came to mind: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10) and “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still” (Psalms 4:4). I asked my heavenly Father what I needed to see. The answer I heard was that I should be mentally still and receptive to Christ, Truth—God’s healing message. As I was still and searched my heart, I saw that the resentment I was harboring was not my own thought; it was an imposition based on a perception of life as material and mortal. The reality is that God’s child—including every one of us—is sinless, perfect, pure, loving, loved, and lovable. Also, I was not dependent on another person or their decisions but on God, and with God’s help, I could do whatever I needed to do. 

As these truths filled my thought, I was able to release my husband, the government, and the power utility from any resentment. I saw that I was now and forever standing in the light of Truth spoken of in the book of Revelation—the everlasting light that comes from God and not a lightbulb or a machine—“The Lord God giveth them light” (22:5).

All at once, I felt free and uplifted. All resentment fled. I could stand. Within a couple of days there was no more discomfort. 

Martine Blackler
Uvongo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa