My husband and I were driving in a city several hundred miles from our home when we were hit by another car at a crossroads. The car struck the passenger's side where I was sitting. When I became aware that I could not move my arms and that I was having trouble breathing, I knew that I needed help in Christian Science immediately. My husband went to the nearest house and called a Christian Science practitioner long-distance. After getting a message about what had happened my nephew arrived and helped me out of the car and took me to the home of Science friends with whom we were staying. Their thoughtfulness and loving consideration had a healing effect which I will always treasure. We were able to fly home in three days. Although I still did not have the use of my arms, my breathing was natural. I did not have a diagnosis and the only evidence of injury was a broken collarbone, which could be seen.
A most helpful statement given to me by the practitioner at this time related to the coincidence of the human with the divine. It was pointed out to me that because the expression of true nature in the human coincides with the divine—the source of all true being—this eliminates the possibility of the human being coincidental with the mortal. Because God knows nothing of accidents, they are also unknown to His image and likeness.
When I was healed, I again began swimming regularly, usually a quarter of a mile each time. Understanding that strength does not inhere in matter, I am happy to find that my physical strength and endurance are as good as ever.
I want to express gratitude for other proofs of God's loving care.
While I was serving as First Reader I developed a throat condition and would sometimes lose my voice. The service was going along beautifully one Sunday morning when, during the reading of the Lesson-Sermon, I opened my mouth to read and had no voice. I stood there wondering what to do, looking down atScience and Health by Mrs. Eddy, and there on the page I saw (p. 191): "Mind is not helpless. Intelligence is not mute before non-intelligence." This marvelous statement was not included in the lesson that week, but Science and Health was opened to that page at that time. I will never forget the power which I felt take over the control of the entire service. The throat problem was not completely healed until a few months after my term as Reader had ended, but not once did it interfere with the services during the time I was reading.
I am grateful for the protection our son had during his year of active military service in Southeast Asia in 1966-1967. As a child he was healed in Science of pneumonia and of an injury to his hand, which was crushed in a heavy door. (I reported these healings in a testimony which appeared in the Sentinel of January 18, 1958.) When he was first sent overseas, I was filled with fear and resentment. I spent many sleepless nights until I remembered the healings he had when he was a little boy. I was so confident of the permanency of Christian Science healing, its irreversibility, and the eternal continuity of Truth and Life, as demonstrated in his early years, that I was no longer afraid or resentful. His service was completed without harm or injury.
I am grateful that Mrs. Eddy worked so unselfishly to give to the world this scientific understanding of Christianity in Science and Health, which is indeed the key to the Scriptures—to knowing, understanding, and loving God, our Father, who loves and cares for all His children. It has increased my understanding of Christ Jesus' demonstrations and those of his disciples. My love for mankind is more sincere and grows greater as my understanding of man's relationship to God increases.
Dover, Massachusetts
