A quiet, mighty band of healers

November 2008 marks the centennial year of the establishment of Christian Science nursing as part of the Church’s healing activities. The Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy states: “Christian Science Nurse. sect. 31. A member of The Mother Church who represents himself or herself as a Christian Science nurse shall be one who has a demonstrable knowledge of Christian Science practice, who thoroughly understands the practical wisdom necessary in a sick room, and who can take proper care of the sick.

“The cards of such persons may be inserted in The Christian Science Journal under rules established by the publishers” (p. 49).

As a Christian Science nurse advertising in the Journal directory for nearly three decades, Eva Boone Hussey shares with Journal readers some of her insights about Christian Science nursing. Eva currently is a senior manager for The Christian Science Publishing Society, where she oversees worldwide Journal advertising for churches, societies, practitioners, teachers, and nurses.

TCSJ: What’s the significance of having a By-Law in the Manual for Christian Science nursing?

Eva: It’s preeminently significant because it establishes Christian Science nursing as part of Mary Baker Eddy’s eternal, universal, divine revelation of Christian Science. Christian Science nursing reflects God’s caring presence for all humanity. I think of the By-Law as God’s covenant with His dear creation. Mrs. Eddy provided tangible evidence of God’s promise of care within the inspired framework of the By-Law—to be fulfilled by men and women who are members of The Mother Church—through their spiritual readiness, ethical obedience, sound judgment, and practical skills.

What makes a Christian Science nurse a unique support to someone who is sick or injured?

Christian Science nurses are first and foremost bold spiritual thinkers. They have every expectation of seeing the patient from a spiritual basis, the man of God’s creating, in spite of whatever contrary physical evidence is presented.

A doctor once told a story of waking up in a hospital bed after being in a car crash, and hearing two nurses referring to him just outside his door as “the quad in 204.” He felt crushed. “It took away everything of value—suddenly I was no longer a doctor, a husband, a father, a teacher, but a quadriplegic in room 204.” His point in telling his story was to encourage medical personnel to avoid summing up the whole of a patient by a condition. My point in telling this story is to zero in on the primary role of the Christian Science nurse, which is to witness to each patient’s innate spiritual identity. Witnessing in this way makes a significant contribution to the environment surrounding the patient.

What do you feel is most misunderstood about the role of the Christian Science nurse?

That it is basically light caretaking given by kind church ladies. Instead, Christian Science nursing demands an earnest, sincere dedication to put into practice necessary judgments and skills in order to conscientiously and properly meet a wide variety of practical needs. Yet the primary demand at the core of the nurse By-Law requires the presence of divine Science in the thought and action of the nurse. Christian Science nurses are committed to the highest standard of care. These devoted men and women are capable of successful achievements in other professions, but instead they choose to join a quiet—but mighty!—band of healers. This centennial year offers the opportunity to honor their contribution to reflecting “. . . in some degree the Church Universal and Triumphant” (Church Manual, p. 19).

From your many years of Christian Science nursing, can you share some specific ideas that you feel have a direct impact on healing?

I’d love to! The following ideas really rise to the top in my experience:

• Call early for “aid.” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy states, “If students do not readily heal themselves, they should early call an experienced Christian Scientist to aid them. If they are unwilling to do this for themselves, they need only to know that error cannot produce this unnatural reluctance.” So don’t let human arguments cause any hesitation in calling an experienced Christian Scientist who is a practitioner. And if you are limited in your ability to take care of yourself in practical ways, also, call on an experienced Christian Scientist who is a nurse or call on the services of a Christian Science nursing facility staffed by many experienced Christian Scientists!

• Willingness to change is key. This willingness opens the door of consciousness to let the treatment of prayer be realized. Mrs. Eddy clearly stated what is expected from treatment in Science and Health: “The effect of this Science is to stir the human mind to a change of base, on which it may yield to the harmony of the divine Mind.” This willingness to change requires what is probably most objectionable to the material senses—a willingness to be stirred! A letting go of earth-weights—our own personal sense of ourselves—for our true spiritual identity. It is under the bright, healing Christ light of divine Science that lives are redeemed and healed.

• Only one question to ask. Wondering and ruminating about the cause of a condition is a waste of time. Mortal mind tempts us to ask about the “whys” of illness, and yet there is no hope of an answer because the condition isn’t any more real than a mirage. You can try forever to explain or even believe a mirage is real, but it always remains an illusion. So to persist in speculating about the human condition, you engage in a kind of mental gossip of unsubstantiated imaginings. The Apostle Paul gave us clear guidance on dealing with the temptation to speculate when he advised us to cast down imaginations and bring every thought into the obedience of Christ (see II Cor. 10:5). The only pertinent, worthwhile question to ask is: Am I knowing what God is knowing about me?

• Gratitude is a rocket to healing. Gratitude acts as a strong force in breaking the hypnotic hold of any and all beliefs. Although it may be hard at times to even think of being grateful when sick or distressed, heartfelt consistent gratitude is an effective way to acknowledge God’s loving presence and power right then and there.

• Persistence is a jackhammer. Persistence in sticking with what you know to be the truth of your spiritual being is a mental jackhammer that breaks up what mortal mind attempts to impose as impenetrable, immovable. Tenacious, resolute, steadfast, unwavering trust in God is a powerful tool that drills right through all claims of error.

There are times when patients feel that Christian Science treatment and prayer are not enough, that turning to the medical model for care is more along the lines of doing something. What is your take on this view?

There surely can be the temptation to feel that seeking medical care is doing something, whereas turning to prayer is doing nothing. This temptation needs to be seen quickly as an impersonal imposition, prompted by the majority of world belief that medical care is the only way to care for one’s well-being. But, just pause for a moment and think of the arsenal of support Mrs. Eddy provided when turning to God in prayer!

• “God is our Father and our Mother, our Minister and the great Physician . . .” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 151).

• “Christian Science is always the most skilful surgeon . . .” (Science and Health, p. 402).

• “Truth is God’s remedy for error of every kind . . .” (Science and Health, pp. 142–143).

• “A Christian Scientist’s medicine is Mind, the divine Truth that makes man free” (Science and Health, p. 453).

• “We treat error through the understanding of Truth, because Truth is error’s antidote” (Science and Health, p. 346).

These few passages show we have immediate access to the best physician, surgeon, remedy, medicine, and antidote! And, it doesn’t stop there! Through the Manual we also have Christian Science practitioners and Christian Science nurses, minutemen and -women representing the healing ministries of the Church of Christ, Scientist, whom we can call upon. And, we have the sacred messages of the Bible and Science and Health, the weekly Bible Lessons, the Christian Science magazines, and of course, church services—all supporting our ability to break through material barriers of any sort. Finally, in Miscellaneous Writings we’re reminded, “Whosoever understands the power of Spirit, has no doubt of God’s power,—even the might of Truth,—to heal, through divine Science, beyond all human means and methods” (p. 52).

What about Christian Science nursing facilities? They are not operated by The Mother Church. Are they really necessary when most people would rather be taken care of in their own homes?

I’ve been incredibly grateful for and been blessed by both ways and means. It is up to each individual to decide whether to have a nurse come to his or her home—or to be cared for in a facility. One of the strongest arguments used against going to a Christian Science nursing facility is that it is a place to go to die, not to be healed. This malicious inference needs to be totally rejected. Healings are expected and consistently experienced at Christian Science nursing facilities, however dire the circumstances. They are hallowed strongholds of support.

What would you say is the most difficult part of being a Christian Science nurse, and the best?

The most difficult is not to be deceived by the images of the physical condition. Attempting to combat these pictures simply with happy thoughts or sheer willpower doesn’t do it. It takes deep, consistent study and prayer not to be impressed by animal magnetism’s three-ring circus. Christian Science nurses must persistently demonstrate the moral courage and spiritual confidence to face and dismiss the fierce pictures of error, while consistently expecting the immediacy of healing.

There are so many “best parts!” Perhaps my favorite is the blessing of learning something new about God on every Christian Science nursing case. This leads me to a quicker recognition of His guidance, keeping my Christian Science nursing fresh and on point. It is wonderful to know that although I, as a Christian Science nurse, don’t intrude on the practitioner’s role—the practitioner having been employed to provide specific treatment for the patient—my prayer has a consequence. Maintaining an elevated spiritual thought contributes greatly to an atmosphere of healing. As Mrs. Eddy pointed out, “The spiritual power of a scientific, right thought, without a direct effort, an audible or even a mental argument, has oftentimes healed inveterate diseases” (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 9).

Christian Science nurses can attest to the fact that spiritual insight that results from prayer, even though it is not specific Christian Science treatment, is fully capable of destroying sin, disease, and even death. And that is another “best part”—seeing the laws of God at work through the steadfast, sacred treatment by Christian Science practitioners and the inspired care of the Christian Science nurses—resulting in healing time and again.

One last question! How are you thinking about the centennial?

As a very special opportunity to further value the By-Law as part of Mrs. Eddy’s church design, and also, to honor the selfless fidelity of Christian Science nurses past and present.

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