Accompanying my gratitude for Christian Science is a compelling desire to share two experiences that established for me the certainty of the healing power of Christian Science and clarified the oneness of God as Mind. Having been graduated from the nursing school of a large hospital in New York, I was given the position of supervisor of its operating rooms. In that capacity I saw many operations for appendicitis in its varying degrees. When I married and came to the West Coast, I continued in the medical field, working as an instrument nurse and assisting in operations.
I had heard of Christian Science, and to satisfy my curiosity about it, a friend gave me her worn copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I read it with interest, though with many doubts. As I continued reading, my absorption in the textbook grew into eagerness to test its teachings. Healings of infected ears, impetigo, and ringworm followed; and twice a practitioner overcame my fear when our young son evidenced symptoms of appendicitis.
During World War II, a friend from my nursing days, who was a surgeon serving in the Navy, frequently visited in our home when his ship was in port. On one Sunday he went to the Christian Science church with us. He was respectful of the service, of the religion, and of its advocates, but said he did not believe that Christian Science could heal a case of acute appendicitis. Like a great wave, fear swept over me, and it was not long before our small son manifested symptoms of this condition to an alarming degree.
I called a Christian Science practitioner, but the progressive symptoms continued, and I knew something must be done soon. I recall going to her home and sobbing: "What shall I do? The child will die, if this continues." I shall never forget the practitioner's freedom from fear and her complete assurance of the ever-presence of God. Like the father who cried to the Master (Mark 9:24), "I believe; help thou mine unbelief," I cried out for greater spiritual understanding. The practitioner told me not to be afraid and to strengthen my trust in Truth. I returned home with new spiritual strength, resolved to stop watching for symptoms and to turn to divine Love.
The next morning the fever was gone, and in a few days the child was back at school. Never again did he have symptoms of appendicitis. This experience gave me faith and understanding to overcome later conditions of blood poisoning, rheumatic fever, burns, and other troubles. Never again was I tempted to turn to medicine or surgery for help. The son, now grown, is serving in the Air Force.
The oneness of Mind was proved in the recovery of a lost item when I was obedient to the laws of Christian Science in maintaining my highest concept of Love and purity. Arriving home after shopping in a downtown area and then marketing locally, I discovered the loss of a small but valued earring. The situation looked hopeless, but I remembered that Mrs. Eddy asks in Science and Health (p.135), "What cannot God do?"
I set about declaring the oneness of divine Mind and clearing my consciousness of every thought unlike Love. While checking my purchases I discovered that a clerk had given me a wrong-sized garment, even though I recalled giving explicit details to him. I was tempted to feel annoyed, but recognized the need to overcome irritation and seek only pure, Godlike thoughts. About a week passed before I was able to return the garment for exchange. During that time, no human effort had been made to locate the earring, though several times I had almost called the lost and found departments of some stores.
As I entered the department in the store the clerk who had previously waited on me came forward. Feeling I might give way to an inclination to rebuke him, I smiled and went on to another clerk. As she wrapped the exchanged garment, I asked for the location of the lost and found department. She inquired what I had lost. I told her of the earring and pointed to the pin of the set, which I was wearing. She reached in back of her to a shelf and then handed me my earring, which I now treasure as a reminder that divine guidance is available when we are obedient to the law of God, which Mrs. Eddy explains so fully in Science and Health.
Christian Science is a source of joy and peace in our home. I am deeply grateful to the practitioner whose consecrated work helped me over so many rough spots, and I am also grateful for class instruction, in which I learned to study Science more systematically and to use it to bless others.— Orinda, California.
