One Friday, as I was getting ready to go to the gym, I bent over to pick up something. Suddenly my lower back twisted, and I was in pain and couldn't straighten up.

As a Christian Scientist I'm used to turning to God for help with every need. I understood that I was a child of God, created to move and act in accord with His goodness. And so my immediate response was not to accept a condition I knew was not a part of my identity as God's child. This conviction was so strong that I shouted out loud, "Get thee hence, Satan. You are not going to ruin my day." I was not thinking of a devil here, but rather a mistake, or error, about myself that needed immediate correction through prayer. I saw that my ability to move comes from God. I thought about the fact that God, or Mind, "... is the source of all movement, and there is no inertia to retard or check its perpetual and harmonious action" (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 283). I'd prayed with this truth many times before, so I had this sentence memorized. I also held to the following Bible verse and found it strengthening: "In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me" (Ps. 56:4).

After a minute or two of praying with these ideas, I was able to straighten up. But I was still having difficulty in walking properly. A painful twinge stopped me from moving freely. Since it wasn't a problem for me to stand, I decided that I could do some of my chores standing in the kitchen, while I continued praying. My copy of Science and Health was open on the kitchen counter, and I read the chapter "Prayer," while I watched my laundry in the washing machine and tumble dryer.

After about an hour, I was able to walk around more easily and sit comfortably. I felt it would be good to keep reading and praying, and I decided to think about exercise from a spiritual point of view, and why I was engaging in it. So I opened my computer to an electronic concordance to the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, and researched words that are related to physical exercise, such as action, control, movement, strength, harmony, and power.

I was interested to read in Science and Health, "Jesus never taught that drugs, food, air, and exercise could make a man healthy, or that they could destroy human life ..." (p. 232). I thought this over. I was sure that my intention in going to the gym was to enjoy the discipline and harmony of movement. I love the strength of action, the challenge, the motion of that activity. All those things to me are God's activities—qualities of Mind that I naturally express as His creation.

I thought of how, before our aerobics class started, the instructor would often ask if anyone had any injuries. And there were always a number of people who reported having lower back problems. I realized that I did not need to join in that—instead I could affirm that exercise did not have the power to "destroy" my health, because my health, as well as everyone else's, comes from God and is indestructible.

I did not go to the gym that morning. Instead, this study and prayer became my "exercise" for the day. I soon felt mentally very free. Later in the day, I needed to go to the TV repair shop and collect our set. I was able to get in the car and drive there without a problem.

A slight discomfort that remained soon disappeared with continued prayer. I was able to get up, sit down, and move freely. After a couple of days, I was back in the gym doing aerobics, completely free.

This healing happened about two years ago, and I have not had any further difficulties. I'm very grateful that Christian Science gives us the tools to heal.

BARBARA STONE
DIEP RIVER, SOUTH AFRICA