Injured hip healed

Marlene Engle

One morning as I was going downstairs, one heel landed too close to the edge of the step, and I fell several steps, jarring myself quite hard as I landed. I declared that I was not hurt and went on to prepare my breakfast. After breakfast I went back upstairs to study the Lesson-Sermon from the Christian Science Quar terly. I noticed that I was having difficulty moving, as though something in my right hip was injured. I spent most of the day in quiet study. When I was not able to overcome the difficulty by that afternoon, I decided to call on a Christian Science practitioner for treatment.

The practitioner and I talked about the nature of an idea, relating our discussion to mathematics and seeing how an idea could never be changed, impaired, or destroyed, no matter what might happen to the symbols. So, too, nothing could change my identity as God knows it. She agreed to pray with me, and I continued to pray for myself to understand more of my relation to God.

I was able to get about pretty well during the next days, and I drove to church on Wednesday evening; but the nights were difficult. It seemed almost impossible to get in and out of bed, and I could not seem to walk upright. The dear practitioner referred me to this in Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy: "Metaphysics, not physics, enables us to stand erect on sublime heights, surveying the immeasurable universe of Mind, peering into the cause which governs all effects, while we are strong in the unity of God and man" (p. 369).

I knew that these truths would heal.

These truths proved to be just what I needed. The healing was not immediate, but I knew that these truths would heal. When I had difficulty at night, I studied and prayed with these thoughts until I could make them a part of me. I also found a great deal of comfort in several hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal. One in particular (No. 382) was very helpful. It starts,

What is thy birthright, man,
Child of the perfect One;
What is thy Father's plan
For His beloved son?

I knew my birthright is dominion, not subjection. I could not be bound by fear. The third verse continues,

Vain dreams shall disappear
As Truth dawns on the sight;
The phantoms of thy fear
Shall flee before the light.

Any fears were indeed phantoms. The last verse told me:

Take then the sacred rod;
Thou art not error's thrall;
Thou has the gift of God —
Dominion over all.

It is not surprising that the phantoms of fear and pain disappeared, not to return. I am so grateful for all that Christian Science teaches, for the dedication and love expressed by our practitioners, and for Mrs. Eddy, who shared her healing discovery with us all.

Marlene Engle
Maitland, Florida

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