Overcoming the drum beat of fearful human opinions

This winter my wife and I went on a trip – four days of skiing in Vermont with our grandson and four days in Puerto Rico with my grandson and his parents. On the first day, I was walking along an icy pathway when my feet went out from under me and I landed flat on my backside. The next day, I was unable to walk without assistance from both my wife and grandson, or to move without a great deal of pain.

I decided to seek help from a Christian Science practitioner. I texted her, she returned my text, and the treatment began. I never actually spoke to the practitioner. The treatment was right on my phone to read, ponder, and apply. Her treatment began with an affirmation, “You’re in Mind, and so is everyone else. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation.”

While I had the full support of my wife, a Christian Scientist, I was also with my teenaged grandson, who is not. He was clearly upset by the picture of his immobile grandfather in pain. Soon he blurted out, “Boppy, you need to see a doctor right now. Let me call one for you.”

Although I was working with a practitioner, I felt pulled by my grandson’s concern. To help him gain some peace, I consented to a “teledoc” visit via Zoom with his family physician. The physician immediately diagnosed the situation and said that a particular medicine would be the best remedy. When he offered to write me a prescription, I responded, “Thank you, but I do not take medication.”

He quickly added that there was nothing more he could do. Then my grandson asked, “What if it doesn’t get any better?” The doctor answered, “Given the age of your grandfather, I would definitely recommend having x-rays taken the next morning.”

The next morning, I could sit up, but moving was still painful. My grandson said, “Boppy, we can drive down to the clinic for an x-ray, it is only 10 miles away.” But I reassured him, “Thank you, but there is no need to go to the clinic, I am feeling better.”

Just two days after my fall, I was able to drive for 3 ½ hours from Vermont to my son’s home in New Jersey. When we arrived, I walked unassisted into my son’s home. All witnessed the progress.

Yet that evening I had to deal with the drum beat of human opinions from my family: Maybe I should have a medical check-up before traveling to Puerto Rico. Then my grandson informed me, “I have made an appointment for you with my sports physiotherapist.”

I responded, “Please cancel the appointment. I have made my decision to continue working with the form of treatment that I have found heals completely.”

On the fourth day, a message from the practitioner cautioned me against believing that I could be a “sounding board” for the opinions of other people. She texted, “A piano string produces its tone when struck by a felt-tipped hammer or when made to undergo sympathetic vibrations; if you sing a note loudly, the piano will ‘sing’ back the same note. But you are not a material object that can be jarred by a direct blow or by some subtle external influence. You are Mind’s idea, Spirit’s manifestation, Truth’s expression. You’re not in sympathy with error. You’re in total accord with the truth of being; you conform to divine impulse.”

I responded, “Love is in control. Being pulled by two points of view—my grandson’s and the practitioner’s—has been treated for what it truly is—error. I am feeling better today, and this is proof for all to see.”

By mid-day my wife and I had not yet decided whether to go to Puerto Rico. We were concerned that our family would be preoccupied with us, which would take away from their enjoyment.

And then Divine Mind made the decision for us. We were not listening to mortal mind (mine, or anyone else’s). We were on our way to Puerto Rico! When the answer suddenly came, my movement improved markedly. I walked through the Newark Airport with no support and no pain—rejoicing. God was in control.

When we arrived in Puerto Rico, our family spent four days walking on the beach and swimming in the Caribbean. I recall floating in the warm ocean water without any effort. I felt embraced and buoyed up by God’s Love.

When I returned home, I resumed playing racquet sports with no impairment and total freedom from pain. This experience showed the unreality of the mortal picture. There was no fall and no effect from error. I am well and always was! Thank you, God. Thank you, Mary Baker Eddy for making this Science so practical. And thank you, dear Christian Science practitioner.

Looking back at this healing, I realize that I struggled with and overcame aggressive mental suggestion, a.k.a. animal magnetism, a topic on which our teacher spent a great deal of time each Association Day. Thank you, Skip!