A remarkable morning

Over the past several years, I had become increasingly distracted by television, the New York Times, and my computer.  It had gotten to the point where it was impossible for me to read more than one section of the Bible Lesson without stopping to look at a little television or read one more article in the NYT. I made notes in my Quarterly, I underlined passages that were wonderful, but meanwhile, I was interspersing that study with these three distractions. I stopped doing all the things that the Manual, by Mary Baker Eddy, tells us to do. The Daily Defense was put aside. During this time period, I became unsteady in my walking and my balance. 

Five or six weeks ago, I got up in the morning and I knew that I should work in Science … but the NYT was delivered to my door and I knew it would be there. So, I opened the door at 6:00 in the morning and reached for the Times, and as I bent down for it, I lost my balance and went down.  I could not get up.  Half of me was lying in the hall that opened to two other apartments. Half of me was still in my apartment. I was lying in my nightgown and unable to move. I tried to scooch my way and couldn’t move an inch.  So there I was. 

I worried at first about the three teenage girls living in one of the apartments in this hall and I didn’t want them to be frightened if they should see me when they came out.  Also I was concerned about their parents — because I felt that if either set of parents saw me lying there on the floor, they would not let it go and would want to take steps to make sure that I was responsibly taken care of. 

But as I lay there, I suddenly realized that I could do now what MBE provided for me to do in the morning. She had provided the “three Dailies” in the Manual.  (Man pp. 40-42) So I started with A Rule for Motives and Acts.  When I got to this phrase – “divine Love alone governs man” - my heart was suddenly and absolutely filled with joy and love and safety. And my gratitude went out to MBE for having provided these instructions for us every morning. I felt so safe lying there, filled with love, and so protected, my heart overflowing with gratitude for Mrs. Eddy

From there I went to Daily Defense, and from there to the Daily Prayer. After that I went to the definition of man. And I was cozy and happy. I couldn’t get to my computer or to the television, and I was lying on top of the NYT. 

After what seemed like no time at all, I heard two men talking softly in the adjacent hall, and I called out “Who is there?” One man said, “I’m here” and I asked him to come over because I couldn’t move my head to see who it was. I asked him to bend down in front of me so I could see him. I said, “Who are you?” And he gently said, “I am the delivery man. Would you like for me to get the elevator man?” And I said “yes.” Of all the people on the elevator duty, he was the youngest and newest and my favorite, and I knew he wouldn’t tell anyone about this. He came over behind me and said, “Would you like me to get you on your feet?” And I said “Yes, but you might need help.” “No, I can do it myself.” He put two arms under mine and lifted me up to my feet. I looked at my watch and realized that I had been lying in the hall for two hours.

I walked back into my apartment, took a shower, dressed and went to Sunday School. When I got there, I told the Superintendent what had happened and we both rejoiced in the experience.  It was surely an example of the wonderful passage on the wall of our church, “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.” (S&H 494:10-11)

Since then I have taken the following steps: I have booked a room at the BA for four weeks before my Association so that I could devote myself to studying and praying for my Association.  I cancelled my subscription to the NYT until October 31st.  These have been right steps and I feel very grateful for my renewed focus on Christian Science.