"A grateful heart a garden is." So reads the first line of a familiar hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal (No. 3). The truth expressed in this verse has been proved many times in my experience since my first testimony appeared in the Journal of May, 1933.
An outstanding experience in which Christian Science was applied with healing results proved the truth of Mrs. Eddy's words in Science and Health (p. 380), "Nothing but the power of Truth can prevent the fear of error, and prove man's dominion over error."
While making preparation to attend my annual association meeting and a week prior to the date set for the meeting, I was stricken with such severe pain that I was confined to my room and was unable to continue with the preparation for the time being. Although physically incapacitated, I was mentally alert to the need of realizing man's God-given dominion and of holding thought steadfastly to the truth of man's perfect relationship with his Father-Mother God.
With the loving help of a Christian Science practitioner I overcame my great fear and began to awake to the fact that as the perfect child of God I could not be deprived of good. After several days of prayerful and consecrated work on the part of the practitioner, although there was but little improvement in the physical condition, my thought had been awakened to the fact that, as Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., p. 134), "There is divine authority for believing in the superiority of spiritual power over material resistance."
Early on the morning before the association meeting I received a telephone call from a friend and fellow member of the association. He invited me to accompany him in his car to the meeting, and although I was still confined to my bed, I knew that the time had come for me to prove man's dominion. I arose, dressed, and was driven to the hotel to join my friend. A pleasant journey was begun without delay, and the trip was accomplished without any discomfort. After a good night's rest I was free from any inharmony and able to attend the association meeting, rejoicing in a clear, receptive thought and a grateful heart.
Another healing I would like to relate was the overcoming of resentment and discouragement. Upon returning home from a business trip, I received a registered letter from the sales manager of the firm with which I was employed as a sales engineer. This letter informed me that my services with the firm would no longer be required after thirty days and that a younger man would arrive the following week to take over the territory. The sales manager requested that I give the new man assistance in meeting the trade and in getting established in his headquarters.
All this seemed quite unfair to me, and resentment filled my thought. Also, I became discouraged because of the need for seeking a new business connection. I struggled with this negative thinking for several days. Then this quotation from the Bible awakened me to the need of trusting God (Ps. 37:3): "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." When the new man arrived to take over the work, I was happy to welcome him as a brother and to give him such assistance as was needed for him to take over the territory and serve it with benefit to all parties concerned.
This experience was to prove a blessing in disguise, for by my holding steadfastly to the truth and knowing that the real man's only business is to express the harmony and abundance of God, the way was opened for me to engage in business for myself and to continue to be active in the business world with satisfactory remuneration.
To those of us who have reached the so-called age for retirement, Christian Science brings the comforting thought that the only retiring we need to do is to retire from the erroneous belief in a power apart from God. This retirement will bless all and keep us profitably employed. Our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, writes in Science and Health (p. 246), "Except for the error of measuring and limiting all that is good and beautiful, man would enjoy more than threescore years and ten and still maintain his vigor, freshness, and promise."
For membership in The Mother Church and continued activity as a member of a branch church, together with a progressive interest in bringing the healing message of Christian Science to all mankind, I am most humbly grateful.— Wichita, Kansas.
