Why would someone want to go to a Christian Science Reading Room? I've been asking myself that today, because I'm involved in planning an open house April 16 to 19 at a Christian Science Reading Room in Creve Coeur, Missouri.
My answer: to buy a foundation! The Christian Science Reading Room sells two books that have been the foundation of my life: The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. These two books are my main tools for learning about, understanding, and following God - and that is what life is all about!
For most of my life I've kept a journal of sorts about healings that I or others in my family have experienced through turning to God for help. There are currently about 75 healings described in this journal. The earliest experience was a time when I was 16 and needed some help. Not knowing what else to do, I started reading these two books and very shortly my problem was solved.
The events I've recorded in my journal over the years include healings of illnesses and injuries, resolving of relationship and business problems, experiences of guidance and protection, and finding of lost articles.
My experience with these books is not unique. In fact, the last 100 pages of Science and Health are testimonies written by people that were healed by reading this book. You can read about other healings that have come from reading these books at www.spirituality.com or in other entries in this blog.
Here is a healing from my journal:
Healing of Back - July 2002
I was lifting a canoe above my head when I suddenly felt something “pop” in my back. I found I could no longer lift anything heavy and for a brief period it was difficult to stand and breath. My wife comforted me with spiritual truths and I soon got my breath, but I could not lift anything.
That night I slept uncomfortably and when morning came my back still hurt and I found that I could not stand straight. I began to treat this problem as I've learned to in Christian Science. I had been reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and highlighting passages related to thought. As I reviewed these highlighted passages it was clear that thought, not a physical condition, is what in all cases needs to be healed.
The daily Bible lesson contained Jesus’ statement: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” I had been thinking about this statement all week and had concluded that “knowing the truth” did not mean to think positively, it meant to understand the true condition of man based on Biblical authority.
I thought about this Biblical authority and what truths the Bible tells us about man. In Genesis it says that man is made in the “image and likeness of God” and that he is “very good”. This image certainly couldn’t include an injured back. In Psalms 23 it says that the Lord is our shepherd. God’s shepherding includes more than just watching us – he tenderly cares for all our needs. The Lord’s Prayer tells us that God is our father and that He delivers us from evil. God was delivering me from evil thoughts or beliefs that I could be injured.
I continued reasoning along these lines for about 15 minutes. At that point my wife went by on her way to play tennis. I had planned to play also, but had told her that I couldn’t possibly play with the back pain I was experiencing. Now, after praying, I felt much better and told her I would go too. I played for an hour and a half without any pain, stiffness, or other physical problems. In fact, I really forgot that I had had a problem until I came home and saw my Bible lying open on my desk. Since that day I have been physically active and have not experienced any back problems or lingering effects.
In contemplating this healing I found two passages in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures that describe my experience: “Truth casts out error now as surely as it did nineteen centuries ago” and “…find a sovereign antidote for error in the life-giving power of Truth acting on human belief, a power which opens the prison doors to such as are bound, and sets the captive free physically and morally.”
- Colin
Colin,
ReplyDeleteThat's neat that you have kept a log of healings. I've heard other people say they do that, and I've always thought it was a good idea, but never did it myself. :-)
Linda