It has been said that a person becomes a student of Christian Science because he is either seeking a physical healing or desires to learn more of God. I was led to take up the study of this practical religion because of the first reason—the need of healing. The truly beautiful unfoldment of attaining a deeper understanding and greater love of God came only after many years of persistent joyful study.
In 1946, the Navy put out a bulletin stating that those naval aviation cadets who had been granted release from active duty immediately following World War II without completing their aviation training could return to active service and obtain their wings and commission if they were able to pass the physical examination. At that time I knew nothing of Christian Science and thought I enjoyed drinking and smoking. In fact, one of my reasons for returning to active duty was mainly to live a fast and furious social life.
My physical examination indicated a blood pressure problem, and I was turned down. I was given several months' time in which to take the test over, and I tried all the medical means available. Nothing succeeded, and the Navy Medical Department said they would give me one more day before a final examination.
At that time my mother was interested in Christian Science and recommended I go to a practitioner. This I did that afternoon, and we discussed the fact that God is Love. The practitioner said he would work for me in Christian Science that day and also during the final physical examination the next day, which was supposed to take place about noon.
The following morning the Navy corpsman gave me several tests early in the morning with the same failing results. He left the room and said that he would come back in a few minutes for one more final test. It was close to twelve noon. I thought of what the practitioner had said about his working for me in Christian Science, about God being Love, and about God loving me. I actually didn't know at that time what a practitioner did when he worked for a patient. When the corpsman gave me my final examination a few minutes later, the result was a perfect score. He was surprised and double-checked me. The trouble never returned, either in the following three years of active duty, in which I took many physical examinations, or later on.
This healing aroused my curiosity, and I desired to know more about what had happened. I borrowed my mother's copy of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. During the following months I studied diligently, and it wasn't too long before the desire to smoke and drink just fell away. I found that when one keeps one's thoughts filled with the truth of man, that man is the perfect image and likeness of God, false pleasures return to nothingness.
Over the years, my family and I have had many wonderful healings, proving God's allness. A sprained knee, which was so swollen that it was almost impossible for me to pull my pant leg over it, was instantaneously healed, enabling me to play basketball that evening. Our oldest daughter was healed of double vision. Another daughter was healed of defective hearing. The birth of each of our four daughters took place without the aid of medication. We have had many more healings, too numerous to mention at this time.
The healings have been greatly appreciated, but in the last several years the unfoldment of a deeper understanding and love of God has been more appreciated. With this unfoldment many false traits of character have fallen away, such as resentment toward those I thought unfair, criticism of others, judging the amount of work done by fellow church members, and fear of the world political situation. Each day has become a day of joy and a time to love all God's ideas.
May I close with gratitude for Christ Jesus, the Way-shower, for Mrs. Eddy, our beloved Leader, who gave us our religion of Love, for Mother Church and branch church membership, for the privilege of teaching in Sunday School, and for class instruction.— Stafford, Barstow, California.
