My summer travels to Turkey

This summer I had the opportunity to spend two and a half weeks in Turkey with my family. We traveled through the busy streets of Istanbul, went to ancient ruins at Ephesus, and sailed in the Mediterranean for nine days. I have been raised in Christian Science and have turned to God, Truth, in every situation and experience, and this trip was no exception. I had the opportunity to apply Christian Science multiple times throughout the summer, and I have a lot of gratitude for that! 

We visited Turkey at a warm time of the year, and were out in the city exploring mosques and historic sites. The heat was definitely an issue for me. 

I had prayed about being hot and uncomfortable before, but this climate was extreme compared to what I was used to. I managed along the first few days without too much discomfort. I drank plenty of water, tried to stay cool when my head was hurting, and was taken in by the beauty around me and the new culture. However, there was one night where I felt all energy had drained from me, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I had intense pain in my head whenever I moved, so I skipped dinner that night and spent some time alone.

During that evening I read the weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson. The subject that week was “Life,” which could not have been more perfect. I went through all the sections, gaining inspiration from different passages from the Bible and Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy. One idea that really stood out to me was this one from Science and Health: “The sinless joy,—the perfect harmony and immortality of Life, possessing unlimited divine beauty and goodness without a single bodily pleasure or pain,—constitutes the only veritable, indestructible man, whose being is spiritual” (p. 76).

The rest of the trip was joyful and pain free, and I was so grateful for this quick healing!

This quote was the plain truth, and just what I needed at that time. I realized that I was always going to express divine beauty and goodness, and that there could never be room for pain in my head to distract me from this. I saw that I was expressing sinless joy throughout this trip, and that this pure motive could never result in any pain to hurt me. I also saw all the perfect harmony that we had on our journeys, traveling on old buses and through the deserted countryside. That harmony and sinless joy were the real experiences of my travels in Turkey, not a pain in my head.

I continued to pray with this quote, and I slept for about two hours. When I woke up, the pain was completely gone. There was not one ounce of discomfort, and I was able to eat and continue on with the night’s activities. The rest of the trip was joyful and pain free, and I was so grateful for this quick healing!

Later on in the trip, we were sailing along the Turkish coast, admiring the ancient ruins and beautiful blue sea for nine days. About halfway through the trip, huge swells in the sea began rocking our boat back and forth. These swells got to my stomach, and I felt seasick. I was stationed at the back of the boat for a while, throwing up from the turbulence, but then I realized I didn’t need to consent to be a victim of this sickness. I went back to the Bible Lesson to find more inspiration. I came across a passage in the Bible that was perfect for this situation: “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. . . . Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Ps. 46:2, 3, 10).

These Bible verses helped me to focus on the spiritual qualities of peacefulness and calm. Even though the waters were rough and the swells were big, it was comforting to see that I could connect with God and know that our Father-Mother was present, taking care of us on the boat in the middle of the sea. This idea was so calming, and as my thoughts settled the seasickness went away completely! I was even able to rest for a little bit. We sailed on the open sea for many days after this and I never had a recurrence of the problem.

I am so grateful for the presence of God no matter where you are in the world, and for the ability to have instant healings!