During the past six years or so, Christian Science has completely changed my life. From early childhood I was sickly and anemic. Severe headaches and faulty vision limited my activities. I was reared in a good Christian home, and the Bible brought me much inspiration and comfort; yet often I prayed for health and strength and puzzled over what seemed to be God's denial of them to me. I was studious and ambitious, sympathetic and longing to enrich my life and help others, but physical handicaps defeated me repeatedly.
Many doctors tried to help me through surgery, medications, or various manipulations. At length they could only advise me to keep as comfortable as possible by avoiding contacts with the things that caused my distress. My difficulty was diagnosed as allergies, which seemed to multiply with the years. I became fearful of foods, fabrics, airborne elements, and people. Life seemed closing in on me, and I prayed for grace to bear what I felt was my cross.
Seven years ago, I left my former home and moved west. Here severe dysentery was added to my woes. I felt I could expect no help from materia medica. Yet I could not give up all hope. I had on different occasions had slight contact with Christian Science, but I had not investigated it, having accepted an erroneous belief as to what it really is. Now I used all my willpower to deny feeling pain, thinking this was practicing Christian Science. Of course I got no better.
I was in need too of supply. Much of my income was derived from the sale of my former home. I prayed to be shown how to invest my modest funds wisely. In what I now know as a beautiful unfoldment of God's guidance, an alert young businessman was led to seek me out, and we were able to develop a sound plan of investment. Our discussions were so harmonious that I felt we were being divinely guided and said so. He did not seem surprised, but instead agreed that an angel thought had come to him in regard to the transaction.
Soon we were quoting the Bible and finding the work joyous. He expressed confidence in my future supply. I told him I was grateful, for, in spite of headaches, I was certain of a long life ahead. He turned to go, then said quietly that I did not need to have headaches. I pleaded with him to tell me how to get rid of them, meaning of all my limitations.
He asked if I believed in the First Commandment. I quoted it (Ex. 20:3), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," saying of course I believed it. He pointed out that in believing headaches had power, I was believing there was power other than God. This was a new thought to me. We talked long, and his spiritual interpretation of familiar Bible passages amazed me. I had many questions to ask, and when he called a week later, we continued our discussions.
He invited me to accompany him and his wife to a lecture, and in that way I learned that they were Christian Scientists. I was confused by much that the lecturer said, yet I knew this religion held the answer to my great need. My new friend lent me a copy of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and though I did not grasp its truth quickly, I read diligently.
When I read a passage which I could not accept, I noted it, but continued to read. Often further reading illumined the passage I had doubted. When it did not, I returned to the first chapter, on Prayer, and found new inspiration in it. I was learning of Principle and the allness of God.
I began studying the Lesson-Sermons from the Christian Science Quarterly and wanted to attend a branch church regularly. This would mean a change of residence. I turned the need over to God, and in a few months, in a wonderful unfoldment, I was led to a most satisfactory place, where I now live, across the street from a branch church of which I am an active member.
My first healing was that of fear. Gradually I lost my fear that certain foods were able to harm me. I began wearing nylon hose in comfort and to enjoy having fragrant flowers around me. Now I delight in a freedom and dominion I had begun to think would be mine only after death when, I believed, all my physical distress would come to an end.
The spiritual unfoldment that brought about these healings was a persistent declaration of basic truths. God is All, so man dwells in Him; there is no other place to be. To claim that I am suffering because of physical elements around me is to dishonor God, the Giver and creator of only good. How ridiculous to think that God can be subject to fabrics and food! Mortal mind yielded slowly, but I have learned that it always must fall before the truth and might of the perfect One.
I have experienced healings of limited vision, indigestion, a sprained ankle, deep cuts, colds, asthma, and also of some unlovely traits of character, including criticism and false humility.
The need for doing daily work for myself has become very important to me, because it is necessary for me to meet animal magnetism not only in the more obvious beliefs of mankind, but in the subtle forms of error that would try to trick me into accepting them as real and allowing them a place in consciousness. I am learning through Christian Science to love in a more impersonal, Christlike way as I strive to see others as God's perfect creation. As Truth unfolds more to my thought, I am able to understand that spiritual prayer blesses all.
My gratitude for all the avenues through which Christian Science works is deep and sincere. It is a privilege to be a member of The Mother Church and a branch church and to participate in various church activities. Daily I thank God for the leaven Science supplies to lift the thought of the world Spiritward. — Saratoga, California.
