Last summer I worked at a Christian Science summer camp as a Christian Science practitioner. My son came along to participate in activities for younger campers, and my husband was able to join us for one of the two weeks. I felt so supported by the camp atmosphere and my family. I learned a lot, and the kids I worked with were so inspiring. Each day we witnessed prayer removing limitations in thought. Because of all the fun activities, I consistently stayed up later than I had in a long time. After the two-week session, I felt so grateful to have had the opportunity, but I was also exhausted.

When I got home, in addition to the exhaustion, I began experiencing a persistent cough and needed support caring for our young son while my husband worked during the day. My wonderful family—my parents and, in the evenings, my husband—stepped in to help, which allowed me to take the time that I needed with God. After a day of praying—aligning my thought with God to see what was true about this situation—I called a Christian Science practitioner to pray with me. She shared some on-point quotes from the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings and other helpful thoughts, but I didn’t feel anything was sticking. I felt as though I were climbing a huge wall and struggling to find a foothold. 

The practitioner reminded me that this was an opportunity to draw nearer to God and that my connection to God was unbreakable and natural. She also reminded me that animal magnetism—the belief of a power or mind opposed to God, the one, infinite Mind—could not work through me to hinder the practice or demonstration of Christian Science healing. That powerful statement really helped me see that the problem was not personal to me at all. I did, in fact, have a foothold and was climbing higher.