Thinking about the mental nature of contagion

Meg

by Meg Dendler

As someone who watches the world with an eye to challenges that need a spiritual solution, my radar went up immediately when I saw the first reports about swine flu a few days ago. As a Christian Scientist, my first reaction was to affirm that the Christ presence, the love and law of God, was right with each and every family—right in the middle of their fear and even loss. I know prayer works. I’ve experienced it so many times.

Mexico is not that far from home here in Houston, and it became clear that this disease was not just something that a few people somewhere else were dealing with. Words like “pandemic” began to appear in the news reports, attached to exactly where each case had been tracked. The fears of this disease were mounting and spreading. I felt my prayers shift and become more consistent.

Human reasoning would call for calm because the actual number of people dealing with this disease world-wide is not at a level to genuinely cause alarm. Where the fear comes in is through all the “what ifs.” But the problem with going down that road is that it creates a sense of powerlessness about something that hasn’t even happened yet. It creates a mental mindset that isn’t helpful to a solution.

The teachings of Christian Science are very clear on the fact that matter cannot do anything or create anything. My own healing of flu while far from home proved it. I’ll get to that soon.

But first what does that mean about fears of contagious disease? It means that matter, our material bodies or circumstances, have nothing to do with the transmission of disease. Nothing! So how is it spread? Contagion of any kind comes only through the power of material thinking—from our thoughts.

Mary Baker Eddy states plainly: “We weep because others weep, we yawn because they yawn, and we have smallpox because others have it; but mortal mind, not matter, contains and carries the infection. When this mental contagion is understood, we shall be more careful of our mental conditions, and we shall avoid loquacious tattling about disease, as we would avoid advocating crime.”

I love that phrase loquacious tattling. It brings to mind someone who rambles on and on about nothing, telling tales that do not bless or bring happiness to anyone. Another way to say it could be babbling gossip. It’s not a useful activity.

I was so grateful for my branch church’s Wednesday evening testimony meeting last night. Our Reader covered in thorough detail the power of God’s healing presence and the mental nature of contagion.

One thing she read seemed particularly appropriate to this current situation, so I looked it up in full today in Science and Health. It is under the marginal heading “pangs caused by the press.” Mrs. Eddy states: “The press unwittingly sends forth many sorrows and diseases among the human family. It does this by giving names to diseases and by printing long descriptions which mirror images of disease distinctly in thought. A new name for an ailment affects people like a Parisian name for a novel garment. Every one hastens to get it. A minutely described disease costs many a man his earthly days of comfort. What a price for human knowledge!”

While I have been grateful for the calm coverage that many cable and network stations have given to these public concerns, not every source has taken that approach. Fear and drama are what impel people to tune in or make a purchase at the newsstands, so many stations and newspapers focus on that human weakness.

The reminder above from Mrs. Eddy stands as a firm demand to me to avoid being sucked in to all of the chatter about a disease, whatever it is, and stand instead on the invariable truth that God is the only power of the universe. God’s power does not allow for disease of any kind. Therefore, there is no law of disease that I need to fear or feel overwhelmed by. Good, good, is All.

“Truth handles the most malignant contagion with perfect assurance.” (p. 176)

I have seen this proven true time and again in my own life. Once, while in Paris as a teenager, the vast majority of my travel group was diagnosed with intestinal flu. The doctor said that mine was the worst case of the group. While others followed the prescribed medicinal regimen, I contacted a Christian Science practitioner to support me during the roughly 24 hours I had to get back on my feet and prepare to travel to another city. And I got results. The symptoms just faded away, and I was able to move forward with the trip, carry my own very large and heavy bag, and feel total freedom.

Any claim of contagious disease is put down by the laws of God’s perfect and harmonious government. We can claim this fact for every individual who feels fearful because of the swine flu or anything else. God is in control. That is the only report we need to follow.

Read other recent posts on contagion: