With deep gratitude for and appreciation of Mrs. Eddy, who brought to mankind the practical understanding of the Christ, Truth, through the various channels of the Christian Science movement, I write this testimony of healing and regeneration.
When I was a young boy, I realized one evening that my back was strained. The pain became so intense that moving was impossible, although, with some help, I did manage to get into bed. My mother was a Christian Scientist, and I had been attending the Christian Science Sunday School. She asked if I wanted treatment from a practitioner. I answered affirmatively and completely trusted God to do the healing work because I had a pure, simple faith in God's ability to heal the sick or injured. I received one treatment. The next morning I was completely healed of the back strain and could continue without the slightest discomfort the normal activities of school, sports, and a part-time job. This healing was of particular importance to me in later years. The recollection of it served as a landmark, turning me toward the wholehearted acceptance of Christian Science during a time of dire need.
As I grew into young adulthood, I drifted away from all conscientious efforts to live the life of a Christian Scientist. Life seemed pleasant and interesting, but underneath I was dissatisfied. I could not find lasting satisfaction in what I was doing, the kind of genuine satisfaction that comes from honest work and from the knowledge of a job well done. Business was very prosperous at times. At other times there would be long periods of inactivity necessitating the use of cash savings to meet current living expenses. My entire experience seemed very much like a pendulum swinging from one extreme to another. I became restless and impatient with my zigzag course. It required constant vigorous efforts to maintain some sort of continuity and order in my life. However, I was seeking material gain for the sake of material pleasures, worldly pride, self-aggrandizement, and mad ambition.
