It has been over a year since I took up the study of Christian Science to see whether there was an answer to a question which has always been a puzzle to me, and that is, why we suffer even though we ask for help in prayer. I did not know the answer before, as I did not know the meaning of the commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." I did not know that "perfect love casteth out fear." Fear of certain things that I ate was a source of trouble to me. I did not know at times what comfort was after meals, even though I took material means or so-called cures in order to get relief. I only found comfort in eating and living through right thinking as taught in the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. Wrong habits were overcome without an effort and almost without my knowing it until they were gone.
I have had two wonderful demonstrations for which I am always grateful and in both cases the healing was almost instantly brought about by absent treatment, which proves Mrs. Eddy's statement on page 179 of Science and Health: "Science can heal the sick, who are absent from their healers, as well as those present, since space is no obstacle to Mind"—for I was six hundred miles from home. The first case was the overcoming of what would be termed a start of lockjaw. While on a farm I experienced a sensation of not being able to talk or eat mornings except with an effort. This kept up for a week and then left me, but it returned a week later in a more severe stage. As I was unable to gain a clear realization of the truth, I wrote to a practitioner one morning and by noon the following day all signs of the ailment had left me and I never experienced it again. Another time there was a severe pain in my side. I treated myself for a week, but had to call on a practitioner for help, and after that the pain disappeared almost instantly.
I worked for a corporation for eleven years and did not believe I could work elsewhere until I was convinced of the fact that there is no idleness in divine Science. Since then I have found work far more encouraging. Although some of my beliefs in so-called matter are difficult at times to overcome, I am always grateful for being able in some degree to follow the Master's counsel, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." I have also found that by giving less thought to the body, suffering can be overcome., I am indeed grateful for knowing that divine Love meets all needs, physical as well as those of supply. Christian Science is the Christ-teaching. Words cannot express my gratitude for the lessons I have learned from Science and Health and for the help I received from the practitioner, who was able to demonstrate that God is ever present. Everything pertaining to Christian Science has been a source of comfort to me, and my evenings spent in reading the literature have been a great help. I have found a difference in friends, as Christian Scientists talk mostly on good and not error, and their words are always of encouragement instead of failure.— Chicago, Ill.
