I once heard it said that faith is the persistent expectation of good. How often have I had the privilege of proving this statement in my life! I have known Christian Science for many years, and I am deeply grateful for many proofs of God's love and care for all needs. I know in my heart that God can do everything—except one thing: disappoint those who rely firmly on Him. It is my deepest desire to gain an ever-increasing understanding of the omnipresence of divine Love.

At one time, for some days, I pondered the following sentences from Miscellaneous Writings by Mrs. Eddy: "This is the Father's great Love that He hath bestowed upon us, and it holds man in endless Life and one eternal round of harmonious being. It guides him by Truth that knows no error, and with supersensual, impartial, and unquenchable Love."

Daily I bore within me the conscious awareness of divine Love, and I rejoiced in knowing that the law of Love maintains everything in rightful order through spiritual power. Then, all of a sudden, I was faced with a severely painful, stubborn condition. The problem, apparently, was a bowel obstruction.

I was very grateful that I had no fear and that I was immediately able to reflect on man's spiritual perfection as God's image. I felt inseparable from our Father-Mother God. I knew that body does not determine whether we feel good or bad. How can it? After all, how we feel is determined by what God knows, and He knows only the truth, which is always good.

I reasoned that the law of Spirit removes all disturbances naturally as we understand that God sustains the harmonious activity of every function of man.

Days and nights went by in this kind of spiritual struggle to know God and man better. One particular passage in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy gave me courage: "Meet every adverse circumstance as its master. Observe mind instead of body, lest aught unfit for development enter thought. Think less of material conditions and more of spiritual."

Sunday was approaching and I had a task to perform in our small Christian Science Society that I did not want to miss. I clung to this Bible passage: "For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness." And I knew God keeps His promises!

I woke up early the next morning and everything was again normal. This was for me tangible proof of God's loving care. But I had more to learn.

On Monday, the problem was back. This seemed inconceivable! Though I struggled as before, once again, preparations for my Sunday duties brought relief. This sequence continued for three weeks. Finally I sat up and took notice, realizing that perfect harmony always seemed to prevail on Sunday, presumably because of my particular spiritual preparation for the church services. Now I knew that during the weekdays my thought needed to be just as uplifted.

One night, when the condition seemed almost unbearable, I prayed, "Father, I need an 'angel.'" I needed inspiration. Immediately I reached for a copy of the German Edition of The Herald of Christian Science and there I read the following helpful explanation: "Christian Science teaches that healing takes place when the human heart turns away from preoccupation with self and is filled with love for God and man." I pondered this thought of Truth for a long time and became convinced that this was a divine demand.

I learned anew that thought filled with selfless love is receptive to healing and the divine power. Then we see ourselves only as divine ideas under God's orders. At this point, both body and mind became quite still and harmonious. Once again I learned the great liberating truth that God's omnipotence overcomes all material resistance. The obstruction released and once again I was free—but this time for good!

From the bottom of my heart I thank God for the realization that we are His "temple." And I know that God will see to it that this temple is pure and remains pure. I'm grateful to have learned that God's action, through the law of His love, brings about transformation within.

Ruth Träger
Bückeburg, Germany