In 1962 my company assigned me to a project in a European country. As work on the project progressed, I began to develop an unkind and critical attitude toward the engineers of that country with whom I worked. I must have been influenced in my dealings by bitter memories of suffering and privations experienced during World War II. In any event, by late October, 1962, I was virtually crippled. My condition was like the woman's in the scriptural account who was "bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself" (Luke 13:11).
I was an infant in my study of Christian Science, although at that time I had sufficient knowledge of the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy to have faith enough to seek my healing through radical reliance on the allness of God. Recognizing my need, I asked help from a dedicated Christian Science practitioner, who readily and kindly accepted my case.
The practitioner did daily prayerful metaphysical work to support me, and asked me to study pages 390 through 393 of the chapter on Christian Science Practice in the textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy.
The section of Science and Health recommended by the practitioner provided an effectual metaphysical prescription for healing which, as often happens, seemed to have been written specifically for my immediate problem. Under the marginal heading "Ultimate harmony" we find these words of Mrs. Eddy's (p. 390): "It is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony." I dwelt on this statement and tried to correlate its meaning with my own concept of God. Gradually it dawned on my thought that as long as I harbored unkind, critical, or resentful thoughts about the people among whom I had come to temporarily live and work, I was not following Christ Jesus' example of seeing the perfection of man in God's likeness. Moreover, I was, in effect, dishonoring God by believing that He could or would create the imperfect man which was the image of my erroneous thinking. As this realization grew, I was able to obey Mrs. Eddy's admonition on the same page quoted above: "When the first symptoms of disease appear, dispute the testimony of the material senses with divine Science. Let your higher sense of justice destroy the false process of mortal opinions which you name law, and then you will not be confined to a sickroom nor laid upon a bed of suffering in payment of the last farthing, the last penalty demanded by error."
The increased understanding gained through the study of Mrs. Eddy's words enabled me to raise myself from my "bed of suffering" and return to work. However, the physical symptoms remained; I could not walk uprightly but limped around, bent over.
My daily appearance at the office in this condition must have caused much concern to my employer and the client. Unknown to me then, reports of my condition were circulating from that country through the separate company organizations in Europe and the United States. When the extent of opinion regarding my case became known to me, the practitioner and I prayed for a clearer understanding in Science that one idea cannot impose itself upon another, for this would repudiate the law of God. I also tried to understand Mrs. Eddy's statement (ibid., p. 207): "There is but one primal cause. Therefore there can be no effect from any other cause, and there can be no reality in aught which does not proceed from this great and only cause."
As I continued daily to ponder the words of Mrs. Eddy on pages 390–393 of Science and Health, it became clearer and clearer to me that I must actively contend for the truth. I must learn to watch my thoughts and to vigorously oppose all suggestions that the people with whom I worked and lived were anything less than divine ideas existing harmoniously and eternally in Mind.
Grateful for the progress so far attained, my wife and I decided to proceed with previously made plans for a skiing vacation. Just before Christmas we drove the two or three hundred miles to the ski area. On arrival at the hotel, I found that I could not easily get out of the car, and once again I could only walk in a bent-over position. What is more, a large lump had developed in the small of my back. I called the practitioner for prayerful support, and resumed the study of Science and Health. I found immediate relief from the pain; however, the swelling and the restriction remained as tenacious as ever. I was determined that I would not be a dampening influence on my family's vacation, so we spent our Christmas vacation at the ski area as planned, even though I was not able to ski.
I spent the time pondering the works of Mrs. Eddy together with pertinent chapters of the Bible. We returned to our home city and a day or two after, the full impact of my months of study and persistent contention for the truth suddenly burst onto the screen of my consciousness. I saw clearly the relationship—the unity—between God and man, between Soul and its idea. I knew the glorious truth that man reflects God in all His perfection and harmony, and I was instantaneously healed. I have since learned that man is God's witness, even the embodiment of God's nature as divine creation. Now I understand body as forever controlled and governed by the law of Life, harmony, and completeness. How, then, could body be material or anything else but perfect, eternally harmonious!
I was completely healed, and I knew it. My appearance was visible proof. However, the people involved in the project for which I was responsible wanted more tangible medical proof. I therefore consented to visit a hospital in Paris for an examination. When I arrived at the hospital, the examining physician expressed surprise to see me walk in so joyfully. Apparently he had expected me to arrive on a stretcher. He summarized his exhaustive examination by saying, "You must have been very sick, but there is absolutely no physical evidence left to show how or why."
I can never fully express my gratitude for this purifying experience, for the opportunity it afforded for considerable spiritual growth, and for the deep sense of security gained from Science and Health, which supplies the understanding that Truth destroys the evidence of matter in our experience in proportion to our acceptance of Truth.
Houston, Texas
