Rozanne Zwick
I’m grateful for the dedicated Fern Lodge staff. They reflect the divine qualities of cheerfulness, faithfulness, persistence, spiritual intuition, and conviction in the Truth! I’d also like to thank the volunteers who support Fern Lodge by reading at our testimony meetings and Sunday services, and serving at Rainbow’s End, the thrift shop whose income benefits Fern Lodge. And I’d like to thank the Christian Science practitioners and teachers, and everyone whose prayers for healing include Christian Science nursing and our nursing facilities.
Christian Science nurses stand firm with those seeking Christian Science healing. Do not hesitate to call upon us! This year occupancy has averaged over 20 patients each day. We’ve also provided out- patient nursing services for individuals who were able to return to their homes after receiving nursing care at our facility. Our Christian Science nurses also make visits to deliver supplies and care for people in their homes.
It’s been a year of spiritual growth for patients and staff. Patients receiving care at Fern Lodge have returned to their homes free from challenges of labored breathing, depression, and what appeared to be a stroke. Others have been receiving Christian Science treatment and nursing care for some time, and the idea of returning to an independent living situation may not appear possible. Recently I read the following in an article about Christian Science nursing, “The Theology of Care,” by Geraldine Schiering, The Christian Science Journal, July 1982:
“In a situation where extended care is needed, it does not necessarily follow that such care is supporting an unprogressive experience. Only the mortal misconception of life claims that certain circumstances are nothing more than a perpetual care situation or that nursing aid is not sufficiently spiritual to support progress and healing. Until the human family advances beyond extensive care situations, we will need to master them. Each stage of the human situation must be brought under divine authority.”
There is rarely a day that Robin, our activities director, isn’t sharing a healing experience. She summed this up with a quote from Mary Baker Eddy (S&H 246:27): “Life is eternal. We should find this out, and begin the demonstration thereof. Life and goodness are immortal. Let us then shape our views of existence into loveliness, freshness, and continuity, rather than into age and blight.”
One patient was struggling with daily activities and said that she didn’t see the value of making the effort. Through gentle encouragement to change that view, this has been turned around to the realization that life comes to us in ideas, which we follow and which bring us joy, companionship, love, and friendship. Another patient explained that her thought had moved from “Why am I here?” to “I’m here to change my thinking. I have a purpose.” For a period of time, a patient has been diligently studying and praying with others and seeing healing results. There was progress from limited mobility to walking with a walker. Not satisfied to stop there, this individual is now walking with only slight assistance.
I like what Paul writes in his second letter to the Christians at Corinth (10:2, from The New Testament in Modern English by JB Phillips):
“For I am afraid otherwise that I think I shall have to do some plain speaking to those of you who will persist in reckoning that our activities are on the purely human level. The truth is that, although we lead normal human lives, the battle we are fighting is on the spiritual level. The very weapons we use are not human but powerful in God’s warfare for the destruction of the enemy’s strongholds. Our battle is to break down every deceptive argument and every imposing defense that men erect against the true knowledge of God. We fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ.
With divine authority Christian Science nurses witness the victories of Christian Science healing.