This is an article I wrote for the Christian Science Sentinel back in 2007 (copyright owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society)
I think I always knew intuitively that the reason I love God is because He loves me. Since earliest memory, I vividly felt this love, despite the fact that my brother and I largely grew up without a dad.
My parents divorced when I was five, and with one afternoon’s exception, I wouldn’t be in contact my father again for another 20 years. However, Mom took us to a Christian Science Sunday School where I learned about God as divine Love, my one ever-present Father and Mother.
As a young adult, I turned away from a Christian lifestyle and, like the Biblical prodigal son, “wasted my substance on riotous living” (see Luke 15:13). But when that didn’t satisfy, I pondered in earnest what my life purpose really was. I was dealing with severe depression, among other issues. So I decided to give Christian Science another try, and called a Christian Science practitioner for help. Together we prayed for several months, and during this time I experienced spiritual growth and physical healing, including an instant healing of a bad cold. The depression and mental darkness lifted completely as I recognized my spirituality. I also prayed for stability in a tumultuous employment situation, and an opportunity to apprentice as a chef opened up for me.
These experiences showed me the practical value of Christian Science. I became a member of The Mother Church and of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. I also took Christian Science Primary class instruction. The class gave me confidence in my prayers, enough so that I prayed for others who asked, and healings occurred. I enjoyed this type of work.
A while later my wife was becoming interested in Christian Science nursing. I was keenly interested and supportive of her new work. In fact, I even became a bit jealous—I wished that I, too, were heading out the door on a special calling that utilized the innate qualities of prayer and compassion.
At that time, my understanding of what a Christian Science nurse does was minimal. I knew only that he or she assists with the physical needs of individuals who are relying exclusively on Christian Science for healing, and who are receiving the prayerful treatment of a Christian Science practitioner. But I would soon have my own unexpected opportunity to grasp more of what underlies the healing aspect of this nursing activity.
One day my wife and I were house-sitting when she suddenly became very ill. I helped her to call a practitioner for prayer—something we were both accustomed to doing. Given the healings we’d already experienced in our lives through reliance on Christian Science, we expected good results.
In caring for my wife’s immediate needs during that time, I realized that I felt energized and strengthened with spiritual joy. This was contrary to a stereotype I’d held—that nursing could be menial and depressing work. My wife needed help changing her clothes, getting washed, and settling into bed. And as I helped her, I was all the while reaching to God and praying vigorously, grounding my own conviction of God’s healing presence.
I began to understand that as a nurse, I could make a significant contribution to the spiritual healing that was going on. For example, it was vital that I mentally rise above the physical appearance of sickness, by recognizing my wife’s spiritual identity as God’s perfect child, just as she and the practitioner were doing. Also, it was important to rid myself of fear, discouragement, or any other thoughts that would prevent receptivity in my own thought to divine Truth and Love (see Science and Health, p. 395).
My wife had a quick recovery, and our experience together became for me a springboard to spiritual discovery. Not long after that, an experienced Christian Science nurse offered to mentor me, and we worked together on some private duty cases. After praying to know what my next steps should be, I ultimately took a two-year work/training program at a Christian Science nursing facility in the United States.
Returning to Canada, I found the necessary details falling into place for me to have an active Christian Science nursing practice, and I began to advertise in The Christian Science Journal.
Since then, I’ve realized that no amount of training alone can make a Christian Science nurse. For as long as I pursue this career, my understanding of the ethics, motives, and practice of this nursing must deepen. Just as with any Christian discipline, spiritual growth is a daily, ongoing demand, in which education and self-study are the norm.
To me, the practice of Christian Science nursing is challenging on the deepest levels. Its essence is the activity of learning to love and care for others with a purer, more spiritually based affection—one that completely trusts in God as the caring and loving Father-Mother of us all.
Dean G Wolfe
