A citation in the Bible Lesson (on Reality) provides an uplifting explanation for this: “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.  Now, as then, these might works are not supernatural, but supremely natural.” (SH xi:9-15)

I got into bed to read the Bible Lesson on Soul from that week, only the pain was so intense that I could barely read.  It was early in the evening and I just had this sense of patience with the whole experience, and unintentionally, I tried something new.  My thought was basically, “I have nowhere to be, and am in no hurry to finish this reading so take your time.”

With my family of five children raised in CS, and yet going their own ways, I see seedlings of turning to Truth, of listening, thinking, and seeking a practical understanding of Science in each family.  I'm reminded of the patience of waiting for the early and the latter rains.

One citation from Creation has come up quite a bit: “Look away from the body into Truth and Love, the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality.” (p. 261)  This is not a formula or “go-to” line but has come through prayer and listening and it has been effective in handling many varieties of the concept of body: the physical body, the body politic, the body of work, the student body (in the case of the school lock-down and health scares), etc.

I picked up the work by simply forgetting the long, long list of problems they had told me as their practitioner. I just realized that the spiritual idea couldn't be anything like that, that I didn’t have to address every problem item-by-item (it would have taken most of the day). I simply had to understand, to realize, what this individual is.

In thinking about this experience, it is for me an example of how “illimitable good” is ever present. This was not about me.  This was about what God was doing.  I was just there to be a good listener and a voice for what God was giving me.

I saw our dog is "pure and holy" (SH 477:5), now.  "The dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table" (Matt 15:27) had new meaning for me this week, as I thought about her "eating" my crumbs of spiritual thought about her present perfection!  There is so much in this Lesson about the dominion of Soul, which has also been so helpful in praying about the claim of different, feuding powers in the world. There is only one government, God's government, and we are all living in the kingdom of Soul.

I know that the value of our associations with members of our Association is potent... and so good. And this can only strengthen our church and bless humanity.

The student went home to his father, a very religious individual according to the son, and presented the idea of praying for ISIS in this way.  The father also replied with an emphatic negative response. Two days later, the father sent word through his son that he had been thinking deeply about the idea and now, too, felt there was something quite right about this approach. He said he was continuing to pray about it.

As many will recognize, this is from Isaiah (58:14), and was included in the Responsive Reading in a recent Bible Lesson.  But this wasn’t a mere nice thought, a rote repetition of a Bible verse that seemed somewhat applicable.    It was a statement of clear, tangible concrete spiritual fact, a declaration of sheer spiritual reality, present in the here and now.

I realized the problem didn’t exist within an outside, independent, suppositional reality that included a dependent extended family and a real estate market I couldn’t control.  I realized I was responsible for my own thinking and that healing would come once I corrected my own thinking – which was my only real task.  

I grew in my understanding that God is the one Mind.  Everything in the universe that has intelligent, active Being is the effect of what God is consciously knowing and expressing. I learned that sea-sickness and all forms of discomfort are not natural. What is natural are qualities and attributes of God, experienced as harmony, peace, wholeness, and health.  

I was led to declare fairly radical ideas. Truly, I was treating my own thinking — the only thing a practitioner actually treats — while making startling declarations to the patient. It started off like this: “You are not in the body, have never been in the body. The body is an idea residing in you!”

I read it [Creation chapter] through with no doubt or fear concerning my situation, knowing what is true about man. There were so many truths that jumped out at me that contained the word "true" and what is true about man.

The article that week had the counsel to exchange material evidence with spiritual fact.  Every time I was confronted by the material picture, I exchanged it with the spiritual reality which was that our dog expressed freedom, strength and health.

Once, when flying and frightened by the turbulence, in turning to God I “heard”, “Thy mercies, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds”. (Ps. 36:5) I laughed out loud! And my fear of turbulence left and has never returned.

He is not a biological cousin, but rather a spiritual brother since we have the same Father-Mother.  He is indeed a spiritual being and I cannot have a false sense of his origin (or mine).

"As an active portion of one stupendous whole, goodness identifies man with universal good.  Thus may each member of this church rise above the oft-repeated inquiry, What am I? to the scientific response: I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing.” My. 165:16

The aggressive thought came to me that this was "very serious" - and there was considerable fear flooding my thinking, which really seemed to be in turmoil - the fear seemed to be in control. However, immediately after thinking this, the thought came to me to repeat the “scientific statement of being” - it was a command to do so - and as I started to do this, silently at first, and then out loud, it felt initially as if I was just repeating words - but I continued.  A practitioner once told me that we feel safe working with and from the “scientific statement of being” - letting our prayers flow from it. I had previous healings working with it.

On Friday night I wrote out a treatment for the travelers, my fellow members, and for the purity and protection of the day.  I spent time with God, listening for my Mother-Father’s voice and feeling Love's presence.  It was good.