I went to tennis camp one summer when I was a freshman in high school.  It was one of the first times I had been away from home on my own. We played tennis every day from early morning to evening.  I was really having fun and improving my game.   One day on the tennis court, I was moving from side to side running farther and farther from one side of the court to another; I “rolled” or twisted my ankle very severely.  At that moment, I had a deep desire to keep playing tennis and keep expressing God’s qualities of agility and freedom. I was praying but I became a little nervous. The coaches and other players who had seen my ankle unnaturally twist let out a huge gasp of concern and worry.  I stuck with the truth of my being that we are taught in Christian Science.  There were no other Christian Scientist there to support me; my parents were not there.   I was all by myself. I realized, I had to be my own Christian Science practitioner, a person who helps us pray when we are ill or hurt.   My thought went immediately to God who was my ever-present help. I claimed my spiritual identity as his child.    In my thought, I knew I was safely held as God’s idea.  I could never be out of his care for even a moment.  Those around me were very concerned and thought I would not be able to continue playing.  But the healing happened instantaneously; I never felt any pain.  I went right back out onto the court and continued playing.

Anna Christian McMullen

In our Bible study group we recently examined the books of Samuel. Of course most remember the calling of young Samuel where he hears a voice, goes to Eli, and the third time Eli realizes that it’s God talking to Samuel and Eli tells Samuel to respond “Speak Lord for thy servant heareth”. Yes, but most people don’t remember just what God told Samuel when he finally responded to God. God tells Samuel that Eli and his descendants will not be the High Priests anymore because of the corruption in his family. Well, this is not good news for the young Samuel(probably about age 10) to be sharing with Eli (his mentor). But Samuel, at request of Eli, does deliver this bad news.

One lesson here for me is that sometimes when God speaks to us it is not something good to share, not easy to share or do, but something difficult and unpleasant. You know, like work. God tells Moses to go to pharaoh and get the children of Israel out of Egypt. God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh (Assyrian capital) and reprimand them. Not easy, fun tasks.

When I was serving on the Board of our local church I once volunteered for an unpleasant duty. We were refurbishing the 50 year old Aeolian Skinner church organ, and there had been some delays in the procurement of parts, there was a lack of cooperation among the 2 parties providing the services, and now there was interference from a longstanding member who was trying to help by inserting herself into the process. When the Board became aware of this added disturbance I volunteered to confront the member. I was the young guy approaching a woman who has not only been a member for 40 years, but carries a lot of authority (official or not) in the church. And while this is not as dramatic as God speaking to Moses out of a burning bush, it did seem like this was opportunity to do harmonizing work for church. So I called Jane (not her real name) and met with her. Before doing so I prayed to get clear that the objective was to add harmony, not more discord and chaos. But also to communicate that each step must be taken with prayer so that each party is fully aware of and listening to God, and not just anxious to inject personality, intimidation, shame, manipulation, etc. to bring about some end result. I actually was not sure, yet, exactly what I would say.

But when we did meet, I was making every effort to stand on principle, not just persuasiveness of personality. It occurred to me, during our conversation, the event of Uzzah in 2 Samuel. The Ark of the Covenant was being carried and all were clearly told not to touch the ark itself. But Uzzah, trying to steady the ark, touched it and was killed (by God). Funny, as I found myself in the middle of sharing this with Jane, I wondered if it sounded like I was threatening her?? Even though that was not my intention at all. I was using the story to appeal to her sense of responsibility to not interfere with God’s work. To allow the authority already in place, and working with the interested parties, to accomplish the task without adding confusion by interfering. My motive in talking with Jane was honest, sincere, and in highest sense of what was right for the church. And Jane did, to my relief, understand. She apologized, and removed herself from the situation. Amazingly, within 1 week the parties were again talking, parts were suddenly found, repairs made, and the organ work was completed over the next 3 weeks.

I reached out to a friend, Jack, at another Christian Science church who organizes volunteers to do construction projects with the Christian Science Camps.  He was very open to helping  us with this project.  He recruited some friends and the group showed up Friday morning to begin work.  They were able to get all the lower limbs down but as those were removed it became apparent just how tall that tree was.  So at that point Jack said;   “lets just stop and pray.”  We had started that day with prayer, so it was only natural for us to quietly turn to God for help.

“God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies”  This quote written by the Founder of Christian Science: Eddy was proved to be true.  Shortly after this pause for prayer,  neighbors showed up with the proper equipment to help take down the rest of the tree.  In a short time, the job was completed.

For me, this was an example of God, infinite Mind. in control.  We could never have predicted such a harmonious outcome or planned a smoother solution.   Only God could have provided such a loving response to our need.  This Church has made it our goal to love our neighbor.  That day love was returned back to us 10 fold and to all who were there to witness it.

Dale McMullen

His fear was such that, even though I was working with a Christian Science practitioner on the matter, it seemed prudent to relent to the medical treatment that he began insisting on, and I checked myself into a local emergency room. I was diagnosed and surgery was prescribed, which I underwent. Because it was not my choice to undergo medical treatment, the practitioner continued working with me throughout to help overcome my substantial fear about being in a medical environment, having been a practicing Christian Scientist my whole life. She helped me see that love was being expressed by my husband and the medical staff and that I was never outside of God’s protective care.

After the surgery and a few days recuperation in the hospital I was pronounced normal and released. However, within a few days, the same condition returned. The medical procedures had accomplished nothing at all.

Now I knew that my opportunity was at hand to rely whole-heartedly on Christian Science for real and complete healing. I worked daily, and sometimes hourly, with the practitioner, who lovingly continued to help me see my present perfection and exemption from any abnormal condition of matter. I wrestled with ominous bouts of fear of dying, leaving my young child without a mother. And each time, she helped me see the presence of Love and the impossibility of losing any quality of health, which was God- and not body-ordained. I remember at one point being mentally on my knees in prayer to the Father, completely willing to give up anything and everything to see the Truth that would bring healing — whether it be my mortal life or even my child. I felt like Isaac out in the wilderness willingly sacrificing his only son in accordance with his best understanding of his duty to God. Of course, Isaac did not have to sacrifice his child, and neither did I.

My willingness to let go of any pre-conceived notion of the timing and method of healing this condition broke the sickness’ mesmeric hold over me, and the condition disappeared completely almost immediately. The healing took place over 30 years ago and has been permanent. Mary Baker Eddy says that “The Science of Mind denies the error of sensation in matter, and heals with Truth. Medical science treats disease as though disease were real, therefore right, and attempts to heal it with matter.” (SH 318:22–25) Matter is not a healing agent. All true healing is done through Mind, God, uplifting us out of a sense of mortal body to the understanding of our wholly spiritual being.

I moved from New York to California, I was still in the state of mind that I was limited in the foods I could eat and the beverages I could drink.   After six months in California, I met the woman whom I would marry.  She was raised as a Christian Scientist and invited me to attend a church service, after attending a number of services, I realized Christian Science was going to be my new church home.

I joined The Mother Church and took Class Instruction in Christian Science. I was on my path to greater understanding and practice of this Science. But I was still dealing with the symptoms of the diagnosed ulcer. Until one day I stopped by my mother-in-law’s home on my way from work.  She offered me dinner as usual and I did partake.  Not asking what was for dinner, I sat down and enjoyed the meal.  As I was leaving, she made a plate for me to take to my wife.  Later that evening my wife and I were taking about how delicious Mom’s meal was.  I had the thought that it was steak, but I was informed that it was pork chop.  Pork was one of the foods I thought I was unable to eat.  Since that day, I have not thought about what I should or should not eat.  The understanding of what is my reality and what is not, I now know that illness and disease are not my reality!

In addition, after the awaking up to the false claims about forbidden foods and gaining the understanding that ulcers were not my reality, the false appetite for alcohol and tobacco was overcome as well.

Joseph Haynes