Heat stress overcome through reliance on God

Michael William Hamilton

I was diagnosed with a hernia as a young child. My mom called on a Christian Science practitioner to treat me through prayer. I received treatment, and I visited the practitioner weekly. I was healed, and this healing was later confirmed when I took the required physical examination before being commissioned as a Navy chaplain. After hearing about the childhood medical diagnosis and my explanation of how I was treated through Christian Science, the physician examined me and wrote in my record that the hernia had been corrected by Christian Science.

I am very grateful to know how to pray, with faith in and an understanding of God as Love. My wife, children, and I have experienced healing and redemption through a growing understanding of God as good and man as His good image and likeness.

Recently, I was away from home on a Marine Corps base for training. It was hot, and near the end of an arduous day another chaplain showed signs of heat stress. I spoke to the instructors, who told me to take him to a quiet place while transportation to the hospital was arranged. I told my colleague, "This is a good time to remember that God is caring for you." I prayed for all the marines and sailors who were training and thought about the promise from a hymn I had read that morning (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 247):

Ye shall not faint, ye shall not fail;
In Spirit ye are strong;
Each task divine ye still shall hail,
And blend it with a song.

The sickening weakness lifted, and I felt well.

The other chaplain soon recovered and declined a trip to the hospital, saying that he felt fine.

The hymn had inspired me to look to God, to Life and Love, instead of to matter, for strength and endurance. This conviction helped me immediately, since I soon became ill with the same symptoms of heat stress. We were to accompany a group of trainees on an evening patrol, and at first I didn't think that I could do it. However, I stood my ground and prayed, making an effort to turn to God. Christ is God's presence meeting every need. Christ Jesus completely exemplified "Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (I Cor. 1:24). A sentence from Science and Health was convincing: "Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself" (p. 385). The marginal heading near that sentence is "Honest toil has no penalty."

The sickening weakness lifted, and I felt well. I accompanied the patrol, crawling, running, doing everything, thanking God.

About a year ago, I realized that I needed to approach my work from a more spiritual basis. Before meetings, appointments, or beginning any projects, I read a few chapters from the New Testament and some pages from Science and Health. I had never read the entire New Testament before. The uplift was, and continues to be, wonderful. In addition, an unexpected change took place at work, bringing new opportunities. I am grateful for the purifying influence of the Bible and Science and Health.

Michael William Hamilton
Dumfries, Virginia

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