‘Go get the book’
Having been raised in a traditional Christian home, I remember my mother encouraging me to think, pray, and listen to God’s leading. Not that I listened all the time, but I certainly was taught with a love for and openness to Spirit, God. After graduating from high school, I was curious about different religious denominations and philosophies, so I visited churches and other places of worship.
In college, I read many books on contemporary metaphysics and spiritual thought. How to achieve peace and harmony was on people’s minds, and I was seeking God.
I had picked up “The Life of Mary Baker Eddy” by Sibyl Wilbur at my local library, which absolutely captivated me. In it, I read about this 19th-century American woman who’d dealt with poor health, limited resources, and intense family issues but always had a deep love of the Bible and of God. She pressed on through tough experiences to complete the task with which God had entrusted her: sharing her discovery of Christian Science with the world.
She ultimately triumphed and became an author, teacher, public speaker, and one of the most well-known religious leaders of her day. I was, and still am, deeply touched by her persistence, trust, and humility.
Within the year, I found myself in challenging times. My business was being undermined by serious marital problems, and the chaos and emotional roller coaster were taking a toll on my health.
As I prayed, I heard a directive from God: “Go get the book.” Somehow, I knew this meant the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” which Mrs. Eddy wrote. Obediently, I went to a local bookstore to purchase it. I started to read the Preface, which begins, “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings” (p. vii), and I listened. I listened for insight, hope, inspiration ... healing.
As I continued on with the first chapter, I felt comforted by the Lord’s Prayer given to us by Christ Jesus, which is paired with Mrs. Eddy’s deep spiritual sense of each line (see pp. 16-17). Remembering a note in Sibyl Wilbur’s biography about the last one hundred pages of Science and Health, I next read those precious testimonies of healing from people just like me – suffering, open, receptive to new concepts.
Oh, how grateful I am that Mrs. Eddy included these voices, to share her message of healing and hope with humanity! Some said encouraging things; for example, one individual kept reading Science and Health even though they didn’t understand it all. Another referenced a Bible quote that describes a transformation taking place: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).
This encouraged me. I didn’t understand everything, but light was coming into my consciousness. I noticed I was more peaceful and hopeful, knowing that God is “no respecter of persons” – that what He does for one, He will do for all, as explained in Acts 10:34, 35.
Within a short time, I was completely free from the health issues and able to resume my work as a real estate broker. Although it was a challenging step to take, my husband and I ended our marriage by mutual agreement.
But even better than the resolution of these difficulties, I was filled with joy and delight in the Lord. Throughout those early experiences I learned to wait for the next right thought before moving forward. It’s been over 28 years since I first picked up Science and Health, and I continue to listen for God’s direction.
As we press on in life, looking for the next right step, we can turn to – and yield to – the healing truths found in the Holy Bible and Science and Health.
Adapted from an article published in the Christian Science Sentinel.
