Right Thinking

I want to give gratitude for something that happened a few weeks ago that proved what Mary Baker Eddy writes on page 12 of No and Yes: “The essence of this Science is right thinking and right acting.” She is leading us to see spirituality, to be spiritual, to understand, and to demonstrate God. I was taking a trip and carrying two suitcases. Before the trip, I prayed, knowing God governs every detail of it. At the train station, when the train pulled up, I thought the steps were rather steep and wondered how I was going to get my cases up them.

Without asking, the lady behind me helped me lift the two cases. So, there was no problem at all. Once on the train, I saw that the nearest empty seat was beside this man who looked rather unfriendly. He looked me up and down and turned his face back to his crossword puzzle that he was working on. He looked so serious, so I quietly sat down without a word. I wanted to greet him, but I kept quiet. After some time, a little bit of negative thinking started to creep in, but I have, through my knowledge of Christian Science, committed to separating every error from the thought of man every day. I kept replacing these negative thoughts with what I now know to be the truth about man.

Two stops before my destination, the question came again: how am I going to get these bags down these steps? Suddenly, this man, who had ignored me for about 30 minutes, started talking to me. He asked where I had traveled from and where I was going. He was smiling, and at one point he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you with your suitcase. We’re not quite there yet, but I will help you.” We had a very nice, brief conversation, and when we got down the steps, he gave me the exact directions on where to go. What was most remarkable was that I was looking at a different man. His face had changed, and he was beaming with a smile as he said goodbye. I realized, because of what I learned through the teachings of this church, that this change that took place was in my thinking. It was my thinking that had revealed to me the beloved child of God, and it reminded me of something I read sometime ago that said you are not a Christian until God is in every face, Principle revealed through every idea. I am so grateful for what Christian Science teaches, for how practical it is, and for Mrs. Eddy for working so tirelessly to give the saving grace to the whole of mankind.