"We live in an age of Love's divine adventure to be All-in-all."
First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 158
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When I was in first grade, a relative told my father about Christian Science. Just a couple of months later, quite a significant – actually, life-changing – event occurred in my life.
One weekend my father and I were skiing up on Sandia Peak, near Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was a long time ago and ski equipment wasn't designed as well as it is now. As I was traversing across the hill, I fell and my leg spun completely around without the binding releasing. I remember lying there in the snow crying and seeing a ski patrolman stop right near me. Through my tears, I tried to ask him to spin my leg back around. He wouldn't do that of course, concerned that he might injure me further. Finally, they got my ski off, and my father transported me down the hill and quickly got me into our car. I still was crying and noticed that my leg was bent at a funny angle. Although we'd only learned of Christian Science a short time before, my Father and I felt a confident desire to turn to prayer right away for healing. I recall so well sitting on our living room floor with my leg on a pillow. My brother was there, too, watching television. I remember my father praying quietly, and reading the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. What happened next changed my life completely. I didn't really comprehend what my father was doing, but I could tell that he was praying with all his heart. I later learned that Christian Science treatment involves a deep, divine, listening kind of prayer that brings the power of God's love to any human need. Despite the sound of the TV, I decided I could quiet my thought so I could listen to God too. Soon, I began to yield to and feel, without reserve, all the love and power that were behind my Father's prayer. Without thinking, I then stood up and walked across the living room to change the channel on the television set. I was completely and permanently healed. From then on, as you could imagine, whenever I needed help about anything, I turned to God. I learned in the Christian Science Sunday School in Albuquerque that my healing wasn't an exception. I talked to lots of people and learned that there is a long, strong, record of spiritual healings for all kinds of illness, even accidents like mine. Over the years, I've gained a growing confidence in the love and power of God, because of the many healings I and my family have had. This sentence from the beginning of the book, Science and Health, tells something fundamental about how Christian Science heals: "The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation" (p. xi). To see God as “divine Principle” to me means God is a tangible, active good in life–a healing, good law one can always turn to. Everyone, without exception, is included in God’s spiritual creation, as flawless, whole, loving, and harmonious. My growing spiritual view of God and His creation is, not something ethereal, or “out there,” but is something very real, permanent, and tangible. And so prayer, to me, is not merely asking God for something, but involves becoming more aware of ourselves as God actually made us, as He preserves us and knows us—as the Bible says, “in His image and likeness.” This kind of prayer brings about a wonderful change in our consciousness, revealing that we're the inherently good and entirely harmonious creation of the all-harmonious, all-good Creator. This mental change removes fear and suffering, restores calm, and we see everything resume normal action and function. I love the fact that God's care and love are infinite and impartial. No one is excluded from the benefits of His healing power and affection. My first healing as a child showed me that God's powerful truths and laws transcend age and experience. These truths are not just some sort of “pie-in-the-sky” future help; they are a present help. Like Paul in the Bible, I too, surely have felt the kind of gratitude that makes me say, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift," (II Cor. 9:15). |
Upcoming LecturesWhat is it that connects prayer with healing?
Sunday, June 9th at 3:00pm First Church Hendersonville 702 5th Av West Hendersonville, North Carolina What is it that connects prayer with healing? Monday, June 10th at 7:30pm Christian Science Reading Room 355 Union Street Rockland, Massachusetts What is it that connects prayer with healing? Tuesday, June 11th at 7:00pm Steeple Hall at Mission Oak Grill 26 Green Street Newburyport, Massachusetts The healing effect of your prayers Thursday, June 13th at 6:30pm Christian Science Reading Room 530 St Joseph Street Rapid City, South Dakota Please click here for my full lecture schedule.
 Listen to my Daily Lifts
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Contact Information
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Address
8 Arroyo Bonito Sandia Park, New Mexico 87047 |
Telephone
505-250-7027 |
Email
mark@swinneycsb.org |
