James Spencer - The Christian Science Journal, Aug. ‘07
The Prayer That Heals Defining Christian Science treatment is a humbling task because its Principle—divine, eternal Love—is infinite, and therefore the outpouring of that Love has endless facets and limitless applications. Treatment is—must be—always fresh and new, like sunbeams pouring out of the sun. It can’t be stereotyped in any way. In fact, it’s not really Christian Science treatment if it even hints at ritual, thoughtless repetition, or formula.
Jane M. Brueckner - The Christian Science Journal, Feb. 2006
During a bus tour in November 1999, I fell while carrying my luggage in a hotel. It was a hard fall and so painful that I felt it wise to go to the emergency room. The diagnosis was a broken shoulder.
Heather Harmon - the Christian Science Sentinel, July 2, 2007
A few summers ago, I was a counselor at a summer camp for Christian Scientists.
One evening, my cabin of six middle-school-aged girls went bumper tubing on the lake—a water sport where you ride in a tube that’s attached by a rope to a powerboat. The girls were having a great time, laughing as they took turns in the tube and enthusiastically bumping along the waves. After everyone had had a turn, my co-counselor and I decided to take a ride together.
Patricia Tupper Hyatt - The Christian Science Journal, Jan. 2000
PEOPLE IN VARIOUS SCHOOLS of medicine are reevaluating the conventional concept of body. They’re prompted to consider how beliefs affect body, and some are exploring the possibility that body might be something very different from what has been previously believed—not just how the body operates, but the very essence of it. They ask, If the body isn’t a machine distinct from mind, then what is it? And how can one gain control over it?
by Christian Keelor - The Christian Science Journal, June, 2007
A few months after the school year started at my boarding school, I had an ear problem. One night I noticed a buzzing of some sort in my left ear when I went to sleep. It had been hurting for a while whenever I was talking, running, wrestling, and even sleeping, but I mostly ignored it. That night the noise in my ear got annoying.
Adapted from the Christian Science Sentinel, May 21, 2007.
February 1995. New Hampshire state championships, cross-country skiing.
After four miles of racing neck-and-neck through forested hills and wind-swept ravines, my rival and I entered the final homestretch. She sped ahead on the last turn. I faltered. And then it was over. Three irretrievable seconds would forever stand between me and the high-school title. I kneeled in the snow, hot tears flowing down my numb cheeks.
Amy Nickell - Christian Science Sentinel, Feb. 19, 2007
When I was in college, I became obsessed with my weight. My first thought in the morning was either “How can I avoid eating today?” or “I’m fat.” I ate very little and often starved myself. Although this condition was never diagnosed, the symptoms were consistent with anorexia.
I was a lifelong Christian Scientist, and I recognized this as an obsession that wasn’t right. But I prayed about it only sporadically. People commented on my weight, but I would dismiss their concerns. I never considered myself skinny. I didn’t think I had a problem, until I stepped on a friend’s scale one afternoon and tipped it to only 93 pounds—fully clothed and with shoes.
ALL LAST SUMMER I had been so looking forward to spending my Labor Day weekend (September 2–3) at my old summer camp in Missouri, the site of the first Spiritual Activism Summit hosted by TMC Youth. However, on the morning I was to get on the plane to fly out there, I woke up and looked in the bathroom mirror. My left eye was swollen to the point that I couldn’t open it all the way. It looked quite awful. This had never happened before, and I was immediately struck with fear. (more…)
Adapted from the Christian Science Sentinel, May 28, 2007.
We got together to talk about athletic competition, and especially our mutual delight in middle- and long-distance running. Instead we spent most of our time talking about spiritual progress—though we agreed this was time well spent.
“This whole running experience is about becoming closer to God,” says Stephanie with undisguised enthusiasm. “And when you get closer to God, you know yourself so much better—your true self, your spiritual self.”
Jonathan B. - “Exams/papers/DOMINION!” part 2 (or “Exam Time”) has been reprinted from the Christian Science Sentinel, Jan. 15–22, 2006
Wasn’t sure which forum to post this in—but here it is: I was wondering if y’all would want to bounce ideas around on how to prepare spiritually for exams. Historically, I have found this time of year (now until mid-December) extremely stressful. The human picture—very little time to pack a lot of information into the grey matter in my head. Of course—in the divine sense, God supplies the answer to every question and need. For me, exams are exhausting and frightening. I know they don’t need to be—and any advice or spiritual inspirations would be greatly appreciated! (more…)
