When Christian Science came into my life many years ago, I was not in need of physical healing. However, existence seemed to be an enigma upon which popular theories threw no light. I suffered much from discouragement, self-consciousness, fears of many kinds, and the conviction that faults of character were an integral part of man's individuality.
My first reading of the Christian Science textbook by Mrs. Eddy unfolded the wonderful revelation that existence is wholly spiritual and perfect; that man is a spiritual idea having perfect being in the infinity of Spirit, God; and that materiality is a dark dream of a supposititious mortal consciousness. It became evident to me that the purpose of human endeavor should be to awake to reality. Here was the true meaning of the words of Jesus (Luke 17:21), "The kingdom of God is within you."
I was later to learn that mortal consciousness, or the carnal mind, does not give up its dream readily. I was also to learn more of the great work of Mrs. Eddy, who exposed the nature of the carnal mind —its animal and mesmeric qualities—thus opening the door to freedom from material sense.
Although it seemed that many struggles would be necessary to claim this perfect spiritual being, I was overjoyed to realize that the "old man" (Eph. 4:22) could be put off and that man's real spiritual individuality could be brought to light. Since the first reading of the textbook, a great transformation has taken place in my life. To the extent that I have understood, trusted, and obeyed God's law, anxiety has increasingly given place to certainty, and a self-centered attitude has changed to one of more kindliness. Many faults of character have disappeared, and many useful abilities have appeared that I never thought I possessed.
My first experience of the liberating power of Christian Science was the healing of the smoking and social drinking habits. I can honestly say that far from being a drawback in business this liberation has been an important factor in business success. Never once has it had any adverse effect. I was healed in a few days of a fever of a kind which is usually expected to last many weeks; the effects of an accident were overcome immediately; I have experienced protection from danger; and many business problems have been solved in ways that seemed miraculous to onlookers.
One of the healings from which I learned most was that of an impending nervous breakdown. When at the point of complete collapse, with many duties to perform and responsibilities to fulfill, I visited a practitioner. I shall never forget the courage and patience of the practitioner and her perception of my need. The physical evidence was frightening, but no reference was made to this.
My attention was directed to these words of Christ Jesus (Luke 15:8, 9): "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost."
I was shown I could liken my individuality as the image and likeness of God to the piece of silver. This individuality, having its origin and continuity in God, could not ever be actually lost or misplaced. Sometimes, however, we mistakenly believe the suggestion of evil that we can lose sight of our true individuality because of the darkness of mortal fears and desires. Here the light of Christian Science comes to our rescue and unfolds the scientific truth that, despite physical evidence to the contrary, the true identity of man has never been lost; it has merely been believed to be lost.
I studied many times this sentence from the textbook (p. 215): "Whatever is governed by God, is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life." I saw that the light of Christian Science was available to me but that I must use this light, that I must sweep my mental household diligently, removing every ungodlike thought until the true concept of man was restored. This spiritual explanation was, to me, like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man. Liberation became more than a possibility; it became a certainty. At this first treatment so much light was brought into my consciousness that I was able to continue with all my duties and did not miss even one day's work.
The complete healing took some months, but the mental housecleaning that took place during that time has been of incalculable value. The lessons learned during this experience have since come to my aid on many occasions and have enabled me to meet and overcome difficulties that would otherwise have been too great for me. How true are these words of Mrs. Eddy in "Pulpit and Press" (p. 4): "You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this"!
I am increasingly thankful to God for His revelation of the healing and regenerating power of Christianity in this age, for Christ Jesus, the Way-shower, and for his faithful follower, Mrs. Eddy, who revealed Christian Science to the world. I am profoundly grateful for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church, for class instruction, and for the opportunity of serving the Christian Science movement.— Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
