No Seasons For Sickness

THERE seem to be so many variables in human experience--even some seasons are supposed to be better than others! And diseases are sometimes labeled "seasonal.'' The widespread belief in seasonal ailments is enforced in many ways, both blatant and subtle. Between news reports of epidemics or outbreaks of disease and what can seem like advertisers' efforts to sell the disease for which their product is the remedy, we're seldom able to escape hearing about these diseases.

We can counter this onslaught, however. It is truly not necessary to suffer through a this-season disease or a that-season ailment when we turn to the law of God for healing. Freedom comes when we learn to recognize and trust spiritual truth.

For years, I was subject to constant colds and influenza in winter, and I suffered from numerous allergies during other seasons. Material remedies, both prescription and over-the-counter, were my constant companions. But any relief was temporary, and the problems continued to follow a pattern of seasonal repeats.

Then I found Christian Science and began to study the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. This study gave me an entirely new view of my identity. I found that the Bible teaches that man is made in the likeness of Spirit, God; that man is spiritual and has dominion over the earth, as Genesis tells us. The first chapter of Genesis also tells us that God created the seasons, and I began to realize that the seasons t hat God created must be good; they could not possibly be filled with potential evil, since they are the product of a God who is infinite Love.

I also found this sentence in Science and Health: "Colds, coughs, and contagion are engendered solely by human theories.'' That gave me something to think about! For years, I'd stayed away from those who had contagious diseases, but I still felt that such diseases were inevitable at certain seasons. Elsewhere in Science and Health, however, Mrs. Eddy assures us: "Truth handles the most malignant contagion with perfect assurance.''

As I learned how to pray, to actually understand that God was my (and everyone's) loving Father-Mother, the old fears and expectations of seasonal ills began to fade. Each time a suggestion of disease came up--whether in the form of media coverage or of symptoms I was feeling--I quietly and gratefully acknowledged man's likeness to God, infinite good, and my consequent immunity from disease.

At first it felt rather impractical to claim this spiritual likeness in the face of such overwhelming evidence to the contrary. But as I began to comprehend better the omnipotent nature of Spirit, God, it became natural and reasonable to turn to Him rather than to believe what the material body was insisting was true.

The value of steadfastness has been proved over the succeeding years, which have been virtually free of these problems. And this freedom has expanded to the point where I've been able to heal others of seasonal illnesses by helping them to see their Father-Mother God's love and care for each of His children.

There is no season when God is not in perfect, harmonious control of His kingdom. And, as Luke records Christ Jesus' words: "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: . . . behold, the kingdom of God is within you.''

Christ Jesus proved by his works that God cares for His children and that when we turn to God with all our hearts, we can be healed. This is as true now as it was in Jesus' time.