While out of town visiting friends, my husband and I went roller skating with them. After lacing up my rented skates, I took one step onto the rink—and suddenly found myself on my back, with my head, elbow, and jaw bearing the brunt of the impact. Employees raced to check on me, and other skaters offered advice. The expressions on their faces and the great pain I felt seemed to indicate that this was a serious situation.

I assured everyone I was OK, however, and crawled to a bench. My husband, who before this had been gracefully skating like a pro, came quickly to my side and began praying, as did one of the friends we were with. I was shaken and not thinking clearly, so I called a Christian Science practitioner. Before I’d even finished explaining why I’d called, he declared emphatically, “It never happened!” 

This bold statement was a loving reminder that right then—and always—I live in the kingdom of heaven, where my entire experience can be only what God, good, causes. The practitioner shared other comforting spiritual truths before we got off the phone, but his first statement stuck with me.