This last week has been extremely tough in Boulder, Colorado, my hometown of 30 years. I hope and pray that those who experienced loss will feel the comfort of God, and the caring love of their neighbors. Yet again these tragic events try one’s faith. I won’t go into what I strongly believe regarding these tragic events, except to say I’m a man of faith – in God, in Good, in Christ, in the best of humanity and mankind. And, I believe faith in divine Love, with an ever-growing understanding of God as Spirit, does heal.
Apostle Paul defines faith in The Holy Bible: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) This statement often has been a benchmark of my faith when various challenges and material pictures seem so powerful.
Merriam-Webster.com defines “keep the faith” as: to continue to believe in, trust, or support someone or something when it is difficult to do so. In Noah Webster’s “American Dictionary of the English Language” faith is partly defined as: 1) the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed; 2) to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God’s testimony; 3) to a doctrine or system of doctrines believed.
Although I’m an idealist, I’m not naïve. Most, if not all, human systems can be improved, though this often requires selflessness, true courage, spiritual strength and sincere humility. I believe all human beings can be better, yet I also believe most people are innately good. Most are caring souls who desire to be loving and feel loved. A divinely inspired theological system that I believe helps in this regard is Christian Science.
Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science and shared her revelation with all mankind, wrote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love.” (p. 113, see chapter “Science, Theology, Medicine”) She loved The Bible. She loved and followed Christ Jesus. She had great faith in and loved God, and she loved her neighbor.
Mrs. Eddy, who used the word faith many times in her writings, also wrote: “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, – a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love.” (p. 1, see chapter “Prayer”)
I believe such prayer is possible for any honest, sincere seeker of Truth. I also believe Christian Science nursing, which includes heartfelt daily prayer, and as practiced for 70 years at Wide Horizon, is for all people who wish to wholeheartedly rely on God for healing. Christian Science nursing is selfless caring for others, nurturing bodies and minds. It is loving one’s neighbor while ministering practical care of human needs. Ultimately, it is being full of absolute faith in Truth, while recognizing the Love that heals for each individual. And, it is seeing spiritual reality in the face of material pictures of loss, disease, sin, and death. This faith to see spiritual reality supersedes apparent material circumstances. Thus, I believe the essence of Christian Science nursing is for all mankind, and therefore can bless all nursing – nurses, caregivers, first-responders and all people.
In an article titled “The substance of Christian Science nursing” from The Christian Science Journal (November 1979), the author began, “Christian Science nursing is more than an occupation, profession or career. It is a ministry of unselfed love, the love that is the reflection of divine Love. The nurse’s prayer is to follow in the footsteps of the Master [Christ Jesus], who referred to himself as one who ‘came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.’” (Matthew 20: 28) The author concluded, “In the broadest sense, every dedicated student of Christian Science, every loyal member of The Mother Church and follower of our Leader [Mary Baker Eddy], is engaged in this universal ministry of Love and is enfolded in its blessing.”
I hope through greater faith to continue to see the truth of being and spiritual reality while engaged in this universal ministry of Love, and I hope mankind will feel its blessing.
Lastly, I hope “… I have kept the faith” as well as possible. (II Timothy 4:7)
D. Brian Boettiger
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