Recently, I had occasion to climb to the top of a small mountain on an island in San Francisco Bay. It was a clear day, and I had an unobstructed view of the whole area. The scene was almost breathtaking. While standing there, I was filled with gratitude, not only for such beauty, but for such a vantage point from which to experience it. Then I remembered Mrs. Eddy's use of the word "pinnacle" in the Manual of The Mother Church in relation to the giving of testimonies. She writes (Art. VIII, Sect. 24): "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, 'who healeth all thy diseases' (Psalm 103:3)."
There I was, standing on a pinnacle, which a dictionary defines in part as "the highest point." As a lifelong Christian Scientist I had so much for which to be grateful, and I was determined to maintain that ascendancy of thought which comes from mentally scaling "the pinncale of praise" and to record that gratitude for the healing effect of Christian Science in my own life.
Throughout the years I have relied exclusively on Christian Science—never feeling the need for a pill or any other medical attention. To me, that in itself is proof enough that Christian Science heals; but for others, who may need more convincing evidence, I relate the following: One hot summer day while cultivating corn on my father's farm, I drank water from an old well (that turned out to be polluted) and contracted what appeared to be typhoid fever. It was a difficult time, and I spent two or three days in bed. But once a Christian Science practitioner took charge of the case, I was quickly healed. I don't know exactly the contents of her treatment for me; but I know that it was in strict accord with the teachings of Christian Science because it healed me completely and permanently. I was back playing college football within a few weeks, and suffered no ill effects whatsoever.
