(This was written by my dear friend, John Wellsman, and I love being able to share it with you.)
Many years ago as a new student of Christian Science, I had the privilege to meet personally with an experienced Christian Scientist whose name at that time would have been considered a household fixture to most Christian Scientists due to his lifelong dedication to and work for the Cause of Christian Science.
Although I had known this individual for several years, this particular conversation was our first on some of the deeper aspects of Christian Science. At one point this gentleman asked me how I worked to protect myself with regard to crime. After hemming and hawing for a moment, I admitted that I guessed I didn't have anything specific that I worked with. Undoubtedly this man had sensed a need on my part because he lovingly shared the fact that he often worked with this idea: "The same Mind that protects me prevents them." The same Mind.
That simple phrase has stayed with me over the years and I can't begin to express my gratitude for the individual's sharing it with me. It has provided much food for thought and proved applicable to a wide variety of situations in areas such as business and supply. It applies literally to "office politics." And it's been very helpful to know that "the same Mind that supplies me, directs potential clients to me."
Recently another application occurred with regards to the current political situation here in the United States Almost despairingy I yearned for some comforting truth to apply to the situation. Instantly this thought came to me: "The same Mind that inspired, illuminated, directed and governed the formation and establishment of the greatest Christian-based nation this world has ever seen will most certainly preserve, protect and prevent its' destruction." The same Mind.
It was so clear that the establishment of the United States of America was no accident. The Founding Fathers, and over the years the countless individuals who have served in so many capacities to preserve and protect the concept of individual self-government upon which this nation is based have been divinely inspired and guided whether they realized it or not. The same Mind that created this nation will prevent its destruction from without or within. All anyone needs to do is to see this truth, accept it and cherish its' power.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
And angels smile
My husband comes from the pet food store with tears in his eyes. "A pitiful little dog is at the adoption center, and desperately needs God's love", he tells me. Not thinking about getting another dog, his words hang in the air. But not too long after, I drive over to the store to take a look.
There the dog is, dirty, almost starved, shaking with fear -- the light of hope nearly gone from her eyes. (Folks at the Oak Ridge, Tennessee Humane Society rescued her, and they think her former owner or owners left her by the side of the road to die. Which she almost did.) I pick her up gently, cradle her in my lap, and begin filling out adoption forms.
And angels smile.
The young man who helped me with the paper work, asks with moist eyes, "May I carry her to your car?", so glad is he that someone was taking her home, as she probably had only a few more days to live.
This little trooper, so thin she can scarcely stand up, amazes us by actually climbing our back stairs to look around her new home. A careful, warm, soapy cleaning comes next, then a bit of food for her. That night, I decide to make her a little bed by my side of the bed, in case she needs comforting in the night. Several old blankets piled up, covered over with a soft, clean sheet does the job, for the best night's sleep this little girl has probably had. The glow of Love divine surrounds us all.
And angels smile.
There the dog is, dirty, almost starved, shaking with fear -- the light of hope nearly gone from her eyes. (Folks at the Oak Ridge, Tennessee Humane Society rescued her, and they think her former owner or owners left her by the side of the road to die. Which she almost did.) I pick her up gently, cradle her in my lap, and begin filling out adoption forms.
And angels smile.
The young man who helped me with the paper work, asks with moist eyes, "May I carry her to your car?", so glad is he that someone was taking her home, as she probably had only a few more days to live.
This little trooper, so thin she can scarcely stand up, amazes us by actually climbing our back stairs to look around her new home. A careful, warm, soapy cleaning comes next, then a bit of food for her. That night, I decide to make her a little bed by my side of the bed, in case she needs comforting in the night. Several old blankets piled up, covered over with a soft, clean sheet does the job, for the best night's sleep this little girl has probably had. The glow of Love divine surrounds us all.
And angels smile.
Humble yet strong
Sometimes daughters of the South are too sweet and light. They lack might, are reluctant to fight when the Cause is right.
Acting humble, while standing up for oneself -- what a challenge this can be. After centuries of half the race being put down, being told to be seen and not heard (with a few exceptions) can make one want to go overboard in expressing oneself. Sometimes it's tough keeping the rejoinders in and not commit the sin of being unloving.
But there's our Hero for all time, our Exemplar sublime, who though his rebuke was something one would not have wanted to be on the receiving end of, was the most loving man that ever walked the earth. And the most humble.
Somewhere I have read that the 3 most important things in the Christian life are humility, humility, and humility. There's no denying that this is a winsome quality. And I should think that emulating Jesus in this way makes us strong as well.
Being daughters (and sons) of the King, shouldn't we be able to express humlity and strength? This we followers of Christ will increasingly need to do, I do believe.
Acting humble, while standing up for oneself -- what a challenge this can be. After centuries of half the race being put down, being told to be seen and not heard (with a few exceptions) can make one want to go overboard in expressing oneself. Sometimes it's tough keeping the rejoinders in and not commit the sin of being unloving.
But there's our Hero for all time, our Exemplar sublime, who though his rebuke was something one would not have wanted to be on the receiving end of, was the most loving man that ever walked the earth. And the most humble.
Somewhere I have read that the 3 most important things in the Christian life are humility, humility, and humility. There's no denying that this is a winsome quality. And I should think that emulating Jesus in this way makes us strong as well.
Being daughters (and sons) of the King, shouldn't we be able to express humlity and strength? This we followers of Christ will increasingly need to do, I do believe.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Why pay a practitioner?
This question comes up in the work I do. And it might be helpful to my readers to address this.
As this blog reaches far and wide, I get requests for Christian Science treatment, from those who know next to thing about my religion. And in some cases, what the individual is looking for (not to put too fine a point on it) is something for nothing. It can come as a surprise to such a one that a practitioner expects some payment, and should receive something for the metaphysical work they do. It's almost as though a person is saying, I don't really respect what you do, but if you can throw a little prayer at my problem, fine and dandy. Meanwhile, I won't even crack the Christian Science textbook (which one who is serious about help should be more than willing to obtain and work with.)
The woman who founded and discovered Christian Science said that she had found that those who were willing to pay what they could afford, experienced better results from the treatment they were getting.
I, too, have found this. When I first began in the public practice of Christian Science, I wanted to help any and every one who wandered by. But experience and spiritual growth showed me this wasn't right--for the individual nor for me. Of course, what I'm engaged in is not to make money. Many are the individuals for whom I have reduced my charges, often halving them, more than once waiving them altogether. But I do expect someone on the other end to be serious about the treatment they are requesting.
In a book titled "Prose Works", Mrs. Eddy states: "Metaphysical healing, or Christian Science, is a demand of the times. Every man or woman would desire and demand it, if he or she knew its infinite value and firm basis." Miscellaneous Writings, page 232
Amen to this, from someone who knew whereof she spoke.
As this blog reaches far and wide, I get requests for Christian Science treatment, from those who know next to thing about my religion. And in some cases, what the individual is looking for (not to put too fine a point on it) is something for nothing. It can come as a surprise to such a one that a practitioner expects some payment, and should receive something for the metaphysical work they do. It's almost as though a person is saying, I don't really respect what you do, but if you can throw a little prayer at my problem, fine and dandy. Meanwhile, I won't even crack the Christian Science textbook (which one who is serious about help should be more than willing to obtain and work with.)
The woman who founded and discovered Christian Science said that she had found that those who were willing to pay what they could afford, experienced better results from the treatment they were getting.
I, too, have found this. When I first began in the public practice of Christian Science, I wanted to help any and every one who wandered by. But experience and spiritual growth showed me this wasn't right--for the individual nor for me. Of course, what I'm engaged in is not to make money. Many are the individuals for whom I have reduced my charges, often halving them, more than once waiving them altogether. But I do expect someone on the other end to be serious about the treatment they are requesting.
In a book titled "Prose Works", Mrs. Eddy states: "Metaphysical healing, or Christian Science, is a demand of the times. Every man or woman would desire and demand it, if he or she knew its infinite value and firm basis." Miscellaneous Writings, page 232
Amen to this, from someone who knew whereof she spoke.
And the tree leafed out!
In early spring, a prize ash tree over 40 years old (we didn't know it was so valuable until someone who knows trees said so) started dying. To this tree expert, the curling brown leaves looked like trouble. He told us this tree was on its way out, that it had some special disease. "You're going to have to cut it down", he predicted. Sure enough, the leaves came raining down over the next few days.
Another person who was fertilizing some shrubbery about this time said he knew of something he could try on the tree, to see if the condition could be arrested. He tried it; it didn't work at all.
Losing this tree was the last thing we wanted, as it provides such shade in our hot summers and is beautiful to look at. So, we set to work in Christian Science.
What do I mean by this? We began praying from the standpoint that there is no disease in God's universe, that His universe is the only one there is. Speaking for myself, I worked metaphysically to see that right where the material senses reported a hopeless condition, right there was a vibrant, healthy, un-diseased expression of divine Mind, God, the Creator of all things.
Something Mary Baker Eddy says in her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, came to thought: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man ,who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." This is on pages 476 and 477.
Well, if the correct view of man removes things needing healing, then the same principle applies to this tree, I reasoned. My job is to see the opposite of what would appear to be going on, to hold to the spiritual fact governing the situation.
And do you know, it wasn't 2 weeks until the nearly bare branches began showing light green baby leaves! The tree began leafing out again, and this just doesn't happen we're told. Now it's full and lovely and just as it should be.
Just one more proof of what Christianly scientific understanding can do in our daily experience.
Another person who was fertilizing some shrubbery about this time said he knew of something he could try on the tree, to see if the condition could be arrested. He tried it; it didn't work at all.
Losing this tree was the last thing we wanted, as it provides such shade in our hot summers and is beautiful to look at. So, we set to work in Christian Science.
What do I mean by this? We began praying from the standpoint that there is no disease in God's universe, that His universe is the only one there is. Speaking for myself, I worked metaphysically to see that right where the material senses reported a hopeless condition, right there was a vibrant, healthy, un-diseased expression of divine Mind, God, the Creator of all things.
Something Mary Baker Eddy says in her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, came to thought: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man ,who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." This is on pages 476 and 477.
Well, if the correct view of man removes things needing healing, then the same principle applies to this tree, I reasoned. My job is to see the opposite of what would appear to be going on, to hold to the spiritual fact governing the situation.
And do you know, it wasn't 2 weeks until the nearly bare branches began showing light green baby leaves! The tree began leafing out again, and this just doesn't happen we're told. Now it's full and lovely and just as it should be.
Just one more proof of what Christianly scientific understanding can do in our daily experience.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Healing of Broken Toe
It's wonderful to hear of Christian Science healings from those who are new to what it teaches, and have taken hold in a big way. A friend who lives nearby just shared such an experience, and I know it will lift up many readers of this blog.
This girl began reading Mary Baker Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures about a year ago, and took to it like a duck to water, as the saying goes. She has just drunk in what it brings out about God, and man as His image and likeness, among many other spiritual truths
Well, last week she told me as they were carrying some things down from the attic in preparation for a move to a new place, she happened to drop a 10-lb. weight on her big toe. The pain was intense, and it looked like there was a broken bone. Her husband who doesn't study Christian Science wanted her to see a doctor. But having had other proofs of God's healing power, this friend chose to apply what she had learned in her study.
She prayed earnestly all that day. Then the next morning, as she was continuing to know what was true about herself as God's child, the thought came, because she was made in God's likeness, and He wasn't going through this mortal dream of accident and pain and disability, it had no power over her. It was no more real than a dream she might have at night.
And this is the best part. "It wasn't 15 minutes more before I knew the toe was healed", she told me. The pain stopped and all that is left is slight discoloration, which is disappearing". The look on people's faces when they experience Christ healing!
Listening to this wonderful experience, I couldn't help contrasting this with that of a neighbor whose foot was broken in a recent car accident. She won't be able to even put any weight on the foot for about 6 weeks.
What a difference it makes when someone challenges pain through spiritual knowledge that lifts it off. And what this girl experienced, an understanding of the divine truths that were the basis of Jesus' healings Science and Health makes possible for anyone else.
This girl began reading Mary Baker Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures about a year ago, and took to it like a duck to water, as the saying goes. She has just drunk in what it brings out about God, and man as His image and likeness, among many other spiritual truths
Well, last week she told me as they were carrying some things down from the attic in preparation for a move to a new place, she happened to drop a 10-lb. weight on her big toe. The pain was intense, and it looked like there was a broken bone. Her husband who doesn't study Christian Science wanted her to see a doctor. But having had other proofs of God's healing power, this friend chose to apply what she had learned in her study.
She prayed earnestly all that day. Then the next morning, as she was continuing to know what was true about herself as God's child, the thought came, because she was made in God's likeness, and He wasn't going through this mortal dream of accident and pain and disability, it had no power over her. It was no more real than a dream she might have at night.
And this is the best part. "It wasn't 15 minutes more before I knew the toe was healed", she told me. The pain stopped and all that is left is slight discoloration, which is disappearing". The look on people's faces when they experience Christ healing!
Listening to this wonderful experience, I couldn't help contrasting this with that of a neighbor whose foot was broken in a recent car accident. She won't be able to even put any weight on the foot for about 6 weeks.
What a difference it makes when someone challenges pain through spiritual knowledge that lifts it off. And what this girl experienced, an understanding of the divine truths that were the basis of Jesus' healings Science and Health makes possible for anyone else.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
To readers of my blog
To one and all, I say thanks for letting me know that what appears here is doing some good in your lives. Your feedback is so appreciated. Although my motivation in continuing to post on this site is not primarily to garner comments from you, and I would share my inspired thoughts because God leads me to, it is kind of you to take time out of your busy lives to contact me.
To pick up on a phrase from a much-loved hymn, "I love to tell the story of Jesus and his love" (think I have this right), what a joy it is for me to tell the story of what Christ Jesus and Christian Science can do for any one of us!
To pick up on a phrase from a much-loved hymn, "I love to tell the story of Jesus and his love" (think I have this right), what a joy it is for me to tell the story of what Christ Jesus and Christian Science can do for any one of us!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
On being free
With all the attention given in my country to Independence Day, July 4th, can't help thinking about freedom. While it's a blessing to live in the United States, for many reasons, what I'm most thankful for is the freedom that has come to me and mine (and many others) through the writings of Mary Baker Eddy.
Could not list all the ways Christian Science has brought freedom--from lack, from fear and worry, from the effects of accidents, from all kinds of physical challenges. But I think what means most is the sense of the unlimited good God has for us, the ever-expanding horizons of usefulness and joy that come from understanding and accepting this. Learning the divine truths that Christ Jesus obviously knew makes this inevitable in one's experience. There just isn't as aspect of daily life that our Master's teachings, as made even clearer to me by Mrs. Eddy's words, do not touch beneficially.
And one of the statement in Mrs.Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures I particularly love is this: "God's being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss." (p. 481)
And so is that of His reflection, man. You and me. Now.
Could not list all the ways Christian Science has brought freedom--from lack, from fear and worry, from the effects of accidents, from all kinds of physical challenges. But I think what means most is the sense of the unlimited good God has for us, the ever-expanding horizons of usefulness and joy that come from understanding and accepting this. Learning the divine truths that Christ Jesus obviously knew makes this inevitable in one's experience. There just isn't as aspect of daily life that our Master's teachings, as made even clearer to me by Mrs. Eddy's words, do not touch beneficially.
And one of the statement in Mrs.Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures I particularly love is this: "God's being is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss." (p. 481)
And so is that of His reflection, man. You and me. Now.
Friday, July 1, 2011
The radical difference Christ makes
Am I suggesting that making
Christ the focus of one's life,
Looking to God for all that
Makes life wonderful,
All challenges will suddenly cease?
In no way.
There will be sharp struggles
From time to time.
And how could there not be,
Given the monumental
Activity we're involved in?
But our day-to-day experience
Becomes, because of Christ,
Much more alive --
Happier, healthier, free.
Life becomes a real adventure,
And in the situations that once
Would have defeated us,
We now find ourselves
Having the mastery.
Nothing can equal that feeling
Which comes to us
When Christ sets us free.
Christ the focus of one's life,
Looking to God for all that
Makes life wonderful,
All challenges will suddenly cease?
In no way.
There will be sharp struggles
From time to time.
And how could there not be,
Given the monumental
Activity we're involved in?
But our day-to-day experience
Becomes, because of Christ,
Much more alive --
Happier, healthier, free.
Life becomes a real adventure,
And in the situations that once
Would have defeated us,
We now find ourselves
Having the mastery.
Nothing can equal that feeling
Which comes to us
When Christ sets us free.
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