by a Christian Science nurse
I was praying specifically about a patient’s care, and the qualities of thought being expressed. Every day seemed to repeat the same verbal material story. I had reached the point where I just couldn’t partake of that verbal rehearsal anymore. I was praying to know how to be free. I was led to where Mrs. Eddy writes, “Lips must be mute, and materialism silent … We must close the lips and silence the material senses” (Science and Health 15:11-16). When asked to nurse in that room, I would quietly, prayerfully, go about the work, not entering into the material conversation. This quiet approach was changing my thinking. Another statement has been comforting: “Christian Science acts as an alterative … It relaxes rigid muscles” (S&H 162:5-8). Rigidity being a claim in this case, the thought of relaxing rigidity, being at ease, was wonderful to experience in my own consciousness. Being relaxed and calm are qualities of thought that heal. When manifested outwardly, it blesses those around us.
The result of this consistent prayer is that there has been a change. The material conversation has noticeably reduced and has been replaced with gratitude. When I was praying for how not to partake of that material conversation each day, it also included my own conversation with the patient. In this quiet, more relaxed atmosphere, though is calm and there is a quiet sense of listening to God and doing the work in a more ordered way. Refusing to enter into that material conversation freed me. Our expectation for change, should begin with a change in our own consciousness. Our demonstration of these spiritual qualities brings healing.
In giving prayerful thought to another patient’s care, I continued working with page 15 of Science and Health. When we pray, thought uplifts to God, and we naturally find ourselves giving thanks to God, being so grateful. Materialism or any complaint is silent. “Lips must be mute, and materialism silent,” was showing itself to be what was needed. I began to examine my own thinking. There were qualities of thought that I was holding to and expressing that needed to go. A change in my own consciousness, expressed, demonstrated, would bring about the necessary change in this particular care. Anger, human will, complaint have to be put out of our thinking first. Error cannot heal error. Thought must rise higher in order to uplift consciousness out of the error.
My consciousness was kept very quiet of noise, complaint, conversation, and I steadfastly listened to God. One day, something occurred to trouble my thinking. I found my thought beginning to complain. This was a helpful experience, because it showed me what error was trying to do. I also knew I could express dominion over my thinking. Nothing could thwart this right endeavor. “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you” Jeremiah 29:12). I was learning the truth of Mrs. Eddy’s statement (S&H 259:26-31), “Immortal ideas, pure, perfect, and enduring, are transmitted by the divine Mind through divine Science, which corrects error with truth and demands spiritual thoughts, divine concepts, to the end that they may produce harmonious results.”
During that time, my greater sense of quietness brought about a clear, quiet thought in the patient, enabling her to hear more clearly, showing the mental nature of that false claim of hearing loss. Complaint lessened, and she expressed gratitude for my help every day. Keeping lips mute and materialism (complaint) silent, is prayer. Prayer evokes gratitude. Gratitude corrects complaint. Gratitude, demonstrated, heals.
God is showing us how to go in our care for patients. We see the things that work, and the things that don’t work, which when reduced, are qualities of thought. I have not always heeded the angel messages. I have not always heeded the demands for change and growth within my own self. But nonetheless, the messages are there, the demands are there, the healing is there. Being a Christian Scientist requires work within our own consciousness. It is our thinking that needs to change, be spiritualized, when we seem to be faced with a challenging care. Mrs. Eddy tells us that we must “pray without ceasing” and that “such prayer is answered” (S&H 15:21-22). This silent, quiet, praising prayer heals.