by Pamela Cook
It was the first sunny, dry day in weeks, so I took the cordless phone out to the deck to settle into my Adirondacks chair and listen to my friend. She really needed to talk about a relationship problem she was having. Just as I sat down, a bee flew directly into the corner of my eye and stung me. I was startled, and the pain was excruciating. Right away, I turned my attention to God, expecting from past experience that the fear I felt welling up in me would dissolve under the influence of all-powerful Love.
I got up out of my chair and walked back into the house, trying to feel calm enough to experience God’s mothering care, all the while listening to my friend on the other end of the phone pour her heart out. Once inside, I resisted the temptation to run to the mirror, because I did not want to see anything that would make me even more fearful. Instead, I curled up on the couch and tried to focus on listening to my friend.
I must say, I wondered momentarily if perhaps I should hang up and give my full attention to praying to heal this problem for myself. But my friend had said she really needed my ear, and I genuinely wanted to be there for her. So, I thought, since my desire to be helpful and loving was surely a good motive, doing so couldn’t be harmful to me. Then came the thought that I could listen to my friend and to God at the same time, and with that, I began to relax into Love’s arms.
Immediately, I felt a sudden surge of what I can only describe as pure love—from me, for me, and surrounding me. A sentence written by Mary Baker Eddy sprang to the surface of my consciousness, “All of God’s creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible.” Then came a radical thought: LOVE the bee! And, without hesitation, I did. And so, there I sat, loving effortlessly—God, my friend, and the bee.
The more I loved, the less afraid I felt about my own situation, until the fear about my eye completely disappeared. In fact, my focus shifted entirely away from myself, and I felt surrounded by the flow of love.
Our conversation came to a natural conclusion, and my friend thanked me for so patiently listening to her. She said she felt more peaceful and resolved. Me? I was overflowing with gratitude for God and Christian Science—for the ability to be there for a friend in spite of my own difficulty. By then, nearly all the pain had subsided. Within a couple of hours, it was gone. At bedtime I was still basking in the glow of Love, having forgotten all about the bee sting.
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The timing of this article is in super-sync!!
Much gratitude for sharing your BEE-ING experience.:
There’s a lot of lessons in this short article, thanks. I’m buzzing after reading it!
Dear Mat,
I was just reviewing the theme of this year’s upcoming Annual Meeting of The Mother Church: “the simplicity that is in Christ.” Your response (above) suggests that same idea, I think. The healing was simple, yet profound! I am grateful it touched you and enormously grateful to be able to contribute to this forum for sharing.
With love,
Pamela
I really like how helping your friend was helping you. Thanks for bringing this lesson home.