Safe at first base

It was a warm, sunny afternoon and a perfect day for softball practice. About midway through practice, our coach split us up. Half of us would be in the field, and the other half would be runners. I was among the runners. I was very excited because one of my favorite things to do is run the bases, especially when the fielders are trying to get you out. 

It was finally my turn, and my coach laid down a bunt. I ran to first base as fast as I could, and I was safe. As I was waiting for the next hit, I began taking bigger leads than I usually do—meaning that instead of standing on the base until the ball was hit, I scooted down the base path toward second base, to get a head start. Before practice, our coaches had told the runners to be a little “reckless” on the base path because we were playing an aggressive team later that week. So my leads were getting bigger and bigger.

On one of my leads, the catcher decided to throw the ball down to the first baseman to try to pick me off. I dove back to first, jamming my finger into the base in the process.

As soon as it happened, I felt excruciating pain in my finger and knew that something was wrong. My teammate on first told the assistant coach, who took me to the trainer. When she saw my finger, she told me that I should call my mom and go to the hospital immediately.

When my mom didn’t answer, I decided to call a Christian Science practitioner to pray for me. I was already praying for myself, knowing that as God’s child, I must always be perfect and safe, and that I am in God’s constant care. When I told the practitioner what had happened, she shared this passage from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: 

“Question.—What is man? 

“Answer.—Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements. The Scriptures inform us that man is made in the image and likeness of God.” 

The passage goes on to say, “Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique.” And, “Man is incapable of sin, sickness, and death” (Mary Baker Eddy, p. 475). This reassured me that I’m not material, made up of parts that can be broken or hurt. I’m completely spiritual—the image of divine Love, God.

Then the practitioner asked me if it was possible to get injured while I was expressing God. It was a light bulb moment for me. Of course not! How could I possibly be hurt in the expression of strength, joy, and stamina, which are part of my Godlike identity? I thanked the practitioner, and she told me she would continue praying for me.

I tried my mom again. When she picked up, I asked her to come and get me. My mom wondered if I needed to go to the hospital. But I said that the pain and swelling had gone down significantly, and I would much rather continue praying instead. 

Before bed that night I prayed with “the scientific statement of being” in Science and Health (p. 468), which helped me affirm the truth of what I am—spiritual, not material—and that I really am made in God’s image and likeness, so I could never be hurt. 

The next morning, I woke up feeling great. I had forgotten all about my finger until my mom asked how it was feeling. I told her that I had honestly forgotten that the accident had even happened and that my finger was healed.

When I went to practice that day, my coach was shocked to see me. When I told her that my finger was fine, she didn’t believe me and sent me back to the trainer. The trainer checked my finger out and said that there was nothing wrong with my finger and that I was free to practice. 

I was so grateful for this healing and to be back on the softball field.