I am very grateful for the Christian Science Sunday School, where I was first taught the basic, healing truths of the divine Science revealed by our Leader.
After graduating from high school, I had the privilege of serving as an associate at the Christian Science Benevolent Association on Pacific Coast. There I witnessed many proofs of the practical applicability of Science, and the healing atmosphere which was a result of the love expressed by both associates and guests gave an invaluable impetus to my study and spiritual progress.
I was recently healed of a back condition accompanied by evidence of internal displacement which made movement painful and difficult. I am especially grateful for the help of a Christian Science practitioner, who aided me during this time to realize more of God's omnipresence and omnipotence. I soon learned that my real need was for clearer spiritual discernment, not merely for physical improvement. Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health (p. 1) "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."
One Wednesday I was disappointed. Although I had been looking forward with joyful anticipation to the testimony meeting to be held that evening in a Church of Christ, Scientist, it did not seem as if I would be able to attend, particularly as I would have to climb several stairs to reach the church auditorium. However, I held to the fact that man, a spiritual idea, is always in his right place, which is in the divine Mind, and that physicality has no power to part him from God, good.
I was able to get to the meeting, and my gratitude overflowed because each testimony given that evening seemed especially beneficial to me; and I gained a new appreciation of the wisdom which Mrs. Eddy expressed in providing these healing meetings. The truths I heard proved to be of much comfort in the days that followed. As I reached out sincerely for Truth and as my desire to learn more of God became of primary importance, the healing came.
A deep resentment over past injustice and a tendency to allow an erroneous influence to govern my consciousness were uncovered and destroyed. Peace and contentment in my home and work soon replaced a sense of unrest and futility when I learned" to put my trust in God and to rely on Him for satisfaction. I can truly say that much as I am grateful for the physical well-being and freedom which this healing brought, the real fruit age from it has been a renewed love for and devotion to the Cause of Christian Science.
Class instruction has brought many blessings. As a result of doing special study in preparation for one of our yearly association meetings, a deep appreciation of the Bible unfolded. For some time the Bible had seemed to me to contain much that was obscure and difficult to understand, and I had long felt a yearning to really appreciate the Scriptural truths. It came to me that God, not human intellect, is the source of all inspiration and understanding, and I turned to Him in this need. It seemed as if a light illumined the pages of the Bible, and each day since then has brought a deeper love for this holy book and a great enrichment to my daily study of the Bible Lesson, provided for us in the Quarterly. This inspiration brought new meaning to the first tenet of The Mother Church given to us by our Leader, which reads (Science and Health, p. 497), "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life."
I am grateful for the privilege of membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church and for daily proofs of God's never-failing love and care for His children. — Los Angeles, California.
