From my earliest years I attended the Christian Science Sunday School and loved deeply the spiritual truths taught me by my teachers and parents. During my teen years, healings of hives, warts, trench mouth, sties, tonsillitis, acne, and sports injuries propelled me to read the Bible and Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy.
While in college I attended a Biennial College Meeting at The Mother Church. I remember being amazed at the dedication and understanding expressed by the other students who attended. One night while at the meeting I severely injured my eyes, which left me totally unable to see. A Christian Science practitioner was called, and friends stayed with me through the night. Many truths of God and man were shared, hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal were sung, and a deep feeling of confidence in God's healing presence prevailed. I realized that my view of others was very judgmental and saw the need for more genuine Christliness in my motivations. I humbly called the practitioner and defined what I was now discerning as the root of the problem. By the next morning, all evidences of the injury had disappeared, and my eyes functioned normally. But I knew that I must put into practice the truth I was learning to love.
Two years later, in 1965, I began a term of service with the American Peace Corps in a crowded Asian city. The challenges seemed overwhelming, so every free hour was spent studying the daily Bible Lesson in the Christian Science Quarterly and reading the Christian Science periodicals. I often pondered this statement (Science and Health, p. 14): "Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man's dominion over the whole earth."
During my stay in Asia I was required to be examined by a Peace Corps physician. At one point he told me that I had an incurable form of dysentery. This condition was healed solely through Christian Science treatment. Another time, my throat seemed to be paralyzed. Daily prayer enabled me to meet my obligations, although speaking and swallowing were difficult. Through this prayer I became aware of the need to challenge the lie of persecution, and one day I called a Christian Science practitioner to help me do this. A few hours later the director of the Peace Corps in that area suddenly showed up. He told me he had received malicious reports criticizing my work, yet he knew these reports were false. Fearing I might be harmed or kidnapped, he recommended I ask for another assignment. Wholehearted turning to God brought quick results. A Christian Science lecturer visiting that area had spoken with me earlier. He reminded me that I was not a diseased person living in a slum; rather, I was the perfect child of God, dwelling in the kingdom of heaven right now. I clung to this truth, and a more spiritual understanding of the presence of God began to unfold in thought. In two days the throat trouble was completely healed. A new job was offered, and with it came a lovely new housing opportunity.
My work continued and proved to be far more effective, because I had gained a more spiritual vision of myself as well as of those with whom I was working. I traveled safely over thousands of miles throughout Asia—usually by myself—on every imaginable mode of transport, dealing with people whose language I did not know. Always I felt the nearness of God and the warmth of Love, and never did I experience harm. I grew to cherish the expressions of good and beauty, and I found these everywhere. I also looked for opportunities to share Christian Science, both on that continent and later in my own country. I learned that the only real solutions to the problems of people and nations are to be found in an enlarged understanding of God.
Shortly after my return home I found myself with a disturbing skin condition. Simultaneously, it became increasingly difficult to move about in a normal manner. Long periods were spent in bed. Again I turned to God for the healing truths necessary to uncover and eradicate error. A dedicated Christian Scientist pointed out that we must continually examine thought and not accept anything contrary to the teachings of Christ Jesus. I soon realized I had been harboring many deep-seated resentments over incidents in the past. It was not a question of whether or not these feelings were justified. The important point for me to consider was that these feelings were unchristlike. What a relief to realize that none of these emotions originated in God, and that therefore the errors of thought could not be true of me. I felt such forgiveness toward those who I believed had treated me unfairly, and I felt forgiven myself. The resentment just vanished. I knew God would work out the details of the physical healing, and that I could trust His love and government. The skin trouble quickly cleared up. And soon I was able to move freely again, to run upstairs and to play tennis. Neither the resentment nor the skin trouble has returned.
After this healing I applied and was accepted for class instruction in Christian Science—one of the greatest blessings of my life. Learning how to pray effectively and to gain deeper spiritual insights has helped me face the challenges of marriage, graduate school, and parenthood, as well as day-to-day situations that challenge all of us.
When my husband finished his Army obligation, he wished to return to graduate school in another state. Although I had a wonderful job, I realized what I most wanted was to serve and obey God. This could be done anywhere. I prayed to accept this change graciously and knew that there must be a right opportunity for me in the new town, although the employment picture there seemed bleak. Within three weeks of our move I was in a new job at a university, which offered me the chance to get an advanced college degree at no cost. Active participation in the branch church of this city also proved an expansive factor in my life.
Later I had an opportunity to teach at the university, where my growing knowledge of God's infinite love found increased expression. One afternoon while waiting in my office for a student to arrive, another student appeared, shouting, swearing, and behaving with little control. He railed about injustices and declared that the teachers were always in the gunsights of his militant group. None of my office mates were near, but I knew that regardless of the evidence, God was really in control. I felt such love for this young man. Quietly I asked him if he knew God loved him. He was stunned into silence. His rage dissipated. The healing truths ruled that hour and many others on our campus when violent confrontations threatened.
Through two pregnancies and deliveries, God has been my strength. I prepared through prayer for the birth of each child. Our children have had many proofs of the healing power of Science.
One day our first son jumped off the car in the garage and collided with a metal shelf bracket, which penetrated his forehead. The physical picture was shocking. But I knew I could disbelieve the mortal picture because I had learned it is never a fact. However, the urgency of the situation demanded that I call on a practitioner for help. With her assistance I realized that our son, God's idea, had never been harmed, and I was joyously released from accepting the appearance of injury as real. In less than two hours the wound healed. It had completely closed, leaving no evidence of damage.
Shortly after our second son had been born, a neighbor, who had had medical training, pointed out that she believed one of his eyes was defective. I recalled that a relative's child had had the same condition and that surgery was used to correct the problem. But God and His law of perfection were the remedy I chose, and a practitioner was called to pray for our son. When I next went to feed the baby, two hours after the call to the practitioner, the condition was healed and the eye was entirely normal.
I have had the privilege of knowing many dedicated Christian Scientists whose lives of humility, patience, and understanding have helped me through many trials. My gratitude for lessons learned; for difficulties healed; for protection, restoration, and at times redirection, would be hard to measure. How could I have any object in life except to serve God and share Christian Science with others!
Dublin, Ohio
