God's care works well with health care

GUEST COMMENTARY

By Chad Schuermeyer

This is in response to "In God's Care vs. health care" in the Nov. 29 Hickory Daily Record (Faith & Values section).

I understand completely where Dr. Asser and Rita Swan are coming from and agree that the protection of children is our No. 1 concern. Parents should not withhold proper care from their children. If there is an issue, it must be dealt with.

I am a member of the Christian Science Society in Hickory. Christian Scientists see this no differently. We want children to be completely healed.

Whether the healing comes through Christian Science or through medicine, the protection of children is our No. 1 concern.

The children mentioned in this article were not Christian Scientists. Also, no Christian Scientist is ever kept from seeing a doctor or from handling a situation in the best way they see fit. There are no church mandates requiring parents to keep their children from doctors, and no one is excommunicated for using medicine.

For myself, the most powerful way to heal anything is with God. That is why I naturally turn to prayer. This prayer isn't a vain repetition or a casual asking God to help. It is learning more about God and man's relationship to God.

Prayer is experiencing and demonstrating God in all aspects and in every moment. "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." — Science and Health.

However, if I feel I am not able to handle the situation, there are many sources I can turn to. I can contact a Christian Science practitioner. A practitioner is a devoted student of Christian Science who has devoted his or her life to helping to pray with others. Their full time work is to prayerfully assist others in healing.

Also, I can contact a Christian Science nurse or go to a Christian Science nursing facility. A Christian Science nurse is a trained individual who takes care of a patient's basic physical needs while the patient is working on healing the situation.

And prayer works. I have seen it happen in small ways and large, in my life and others'. I have experienced countless healings and know that Christian Science is the best health care available.
I never missed a day of school from kindergarten through high school. Now I work for a company where calling in sick is not an option. I continue to rely on Christian Science to stay healthy.

This last spring, while working in Anchorage Alaska, I relied completely on Christian Science for healing a case of the flu. The healing was complete and permanent. I would want nothing less for my friends and family.

If anyone has any questions regarding Christian Science, contact the Hickory Christian Science Society at cshickory@yahoo.com or come into the Hickory Reading Room (828-324-8024) where there is someone to lovingly answer any questions you may have.

Reading Room hours are Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. To learn more about Christian Science and hear from people who have experienced healings in their own life, tune into the Christian Science Sentinel Radio Program broadcast each Sunday morning on WSPA 1290 AM.

Chad Schuermeyer is a resident of Claremont.

Letter to Your Voice

Fix economy by inventing new products, make new jobs

Some of you want to know how we can fix the economy. I think we need to invent new products, cut down on spending, make new jobs, get up to date with the times, etc.

The country needs to be creative like we were during Regan administration. We lost the furniture businesses overseas. We used to be the furniture capital in the world.

I hope our country gets itself back out of recession in the coming decade.

Kevin Tooley
Hickory