Mary Baker Eddy wrote an insightful article on how to protect oneself from contagious disease in her piece, “Contagion,” included in her book Miscellaneous Writings.
She wrote,
“Whatever man sees, feels, or in any way takes cognizance of, must be caught through mind; inasmuch as perception, sensation, and consciousness belong to mind and not to matter. Floating with the popular current of mortal thought without questioning the reliability of its conclusions, we do what others do, believe what others believe, and say what others say. Common consent is contagious, and it makes disease catching” Miscellaneous Writings, p. 228.
These are certainly wise words to keep us awake to the importance of watching the direction of our thought and not letting it fall into accepting the possibility of catching a contagious disease. Disease is caught through mind, not the body, so if successfully kept out of thought, the body is protected.
By knowing the omnipresence of God, in which there is only the goodness of God circulating for one and all to feel and know, we can neutralize fear of disease and render it harmless. Mrs. Eddy gives us the ultimate immunity from contagion in these words,
“A calm, Christian state of mind is a better preventive of contagion than a drug, or than any other possible sanative method; and the “perfect Love” that “casteth out fear” is a sure defense”
Miscellaneous Writings, p. 229.
Yes. And we can keep general thought free, too.
Mrs. Eddy speaks of the enormous power of a spiritual understanding of the Lord’s prayer.
I realized yesterday that the ‘Our’ and “us” in the prayer — was the ‘our’ and ‘us’ of all mankind. A prayer of oceanic movement.
It is an ‘our’ uniting all humanity with the Father’s son, who first spoke the prayer.
It means all mankind immune NOW from evil — from sin, disease, and death.
As we go through every line and its spiritual interpretation on page 16-17 of Science and Health, we’ll be convinced of this prayer’s effectiveness to free our entire community of this fear. “Enable us to know, as in heaven, so on earth, God is omnipotent, supreme.”
Totally possible, since “God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth and Love, over all, and ALL.”
Great timng for me Evan. Thankyou!
Great reminder. The media is so filled with suggestions of all kind of disease, not just the flu, that one almost has to shut out radio and television to escape the endless stream of fear-based ads for diseases and their so-called cures.
I had an instantaneous healing of the flu while living in California some years ago. In the wee hours of the morning unable to sleep and in the so-called fever stage of the flu, I sat on the edge of my bed and the angel thought came to me” isn’t it wonderful when we’re healthy”. Instantaneously all the symptoms disappeared. It was gratitude, love, an affirmation of Gods goodness that brought the healing.
Richard, what a wonderful demonstration. Thank you for sharing.
A very useful reminder, Evan. Everywhere I go (except church!) I meet someone eager to tell me about their bout of contagious disease – in tones of awe!
I say little but inwardly deny that disease has any power except what mortal mind gives it.
“If you decide that climate or atmosphere is unhealthy, it will be so to you. Your decisions will master you, whichever direction they take.
Reverse the case. Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously. When the condition is present which you say induces disease, whether it be air, exercise, heredity, contagion, or accident, then perform your office as porter and shut out these unhealthy thoughts and fears.”
SH 392:21-30
“Mind is the master of the corporeal senses, and can conquer sickness, sin, and death. Exercise this God-given authority. Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.”
SH 393:8
Thank you, Evan, for this excellent reminder. It reminds me of this quote:
You must feel and know that God alone governs man; that His government is harmonious; that He is too pure to behold iniquity, and divides His power with nothing evil or material; that material laws are only human beliefs, which govern mortals wrongfully.
— Mary Baker Eddy, Rudimental Divine Science 10:5-9
Blessings to all.
Thank you, Evan, for this excellent reminder. It reminds me of this quote:
You must feel and know that God alone governs man; that His government is harmonious; that He is too pure to behold iniquity, and divides His power with nothing evil or material; that material laws are only human beliefs, which govern mortals wrongfully.
— Mary Baker Eddy, Rudimental Divine Science 10:5-9
Blessings to all.
Sorry about the double helping – it did not do anything the first time I hit “send,” and the second time I tried they both went through!
The double helping was worth reading twice. This blog is just what I needed.
Thanks Evan and all of you.
“This is the day the Lord hath made”…
“stand in his presence unafraid”
Hymn 342
Jane,
I second that. Thank you both! 🙂
No problem. Worth reading twice!
And all the comments today so helpful.
Thanks, Evan, for this very timely message. I have a quote which I paraphrased from an article by Hank Teller, “Predestinated for good” (Sentinel, January 1, 2018) which states in part, “every aspect of my being is governed by God’s law, and this law maintains my eternal perfection as God’s image and likeness. I am not governed by material laws, worldly opinions, or diagnoses.” I also paraphrase a statement by Mary Baker Eddy, “All inharmony of mortal mind or body is an illusion, a mirage, the false testimony of the material senses, nameless and powerless. We should never give a name to a physical problem as this gives it an identity and thus power. God is omnipotent – the absolute and only power there is!
Thank you, Evan for this timely and much needed (by me especially!) message. Excellent stuff!
Thank you for addressing what is currently going around mentally. I thought how all these suggestions are the impossible task of trying to manage evil. So many years I ‘managed evil’ to keep myself safe and healthy by finding ways to improve or preserve my health. Though you may go to a doctor once a year, real healthcare is moment to moment alertness and prayer not once a year or when you find yourself feeling not well.
The “flu” advertising is prolific. Lots of signs about town here in Alberta, Canada
offering FREE FLU Shots.
It makes me rise in opposition , mentally, thankfully, insistently, to reverse that
aggressive mental suggestion
with the statement on page 421 of Science and Health
“Insist vehemently
on the great fact which covers the whole ground,
that God, Spirit, is all, and that there is none beside
Him. There is no disease.”
I am very grateful for today`s SpiritView, dear Evan;
very need and so helpful the healing spiritual view on that topic !
Thank you all so much for your inspired comments ! 🙂
Grateful thanks for this article and for all those who responded, declaring the Truth in so many different ways..Testimonies to the fact as Mary Baker Eddy wrote “Divine Mind always has met and always will meet every every human need,”
Joan C.
I loved all the comments. I’ve consciously been telling myself to step out of the body. To flood my thought with God’s spiritual likeness residing in God’s Infinite health and holiness . Keeping my thoughts focused on all that is good. Glad I’m in the panoply of Love where we are always protected.
Thank you