I share this experience with the desire that it may encourage others challenged with a physical difficulty over a long period. This healing has provided me with the greatest lesson to date as to what the term spiritually scientific really means. A clearer understanding of this term resulted from a deepened love for and commitment to Mary Baker Eddy's writings: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Prose Works, and the Manual of The Mother Church.
Over a period of a few years I was troubled in varying degrees by a growth on my head. In order to be able to give more time to my study of Christian Science and other demands, I resigned from a full-time career. I also had help from several different Christian Science practitioners at various times.
During this period, too, I was very concerned about someone. My own problems, coupled with extreme concern over this person, led me to the point where I felt deeply challenged.
One day in the midst of all of this, it was brought home to me that in addition to my regular study, it was vital I keep reading through Science and Health, Prose Works, and the Church Manual on a daily basis. And so I began.
Perhaps a month later, the most discouraging picture yet presented itself in regard to the individual causing concern. Not knowing what else to do, one morning after I had finished studying the Bible Lesson (outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly), I turned again to my extra study of the three books. I only wish I could put into words what happened. As I was reading from Prose Works, all of a sudden I gained a viewpoint of man as the very idea, the spiritual expression, of God that I had never seen before. This new standpoint was marvelous and filled my consciousness. I beheld a oneness of God and man, an inseparability, that I had only accepted and trusted before but hadn't really understood. It was the most remarkable moment in my entire experience with Christian Science. Here were spiritually scientific facts as I had never beheld them.
When I closed the books, I felt a quiet sense of awe about what I now saw man to be, and a deep sense of gratitude for Christian Science welled up in me. As I reveled in this tremendous viewpoint, these passages from Science and Health came to thought: "Christian scientific practice begins with Christ's keynote of harmony, 'Be not afraid!'" and "In order to apprehend more, we must put into practice what we already know. We must recollect that Truth is demonstrable when understood, and that good is not understood until demonstrated."
I also considered the substance of this statement from Science and Health emphasized repeatedly during Christian Science class instruction: "The dream that matter and error are something must yield to reason and revelation. Then mortals will behold the nothingness of sickness and sin, and sin and sickness will disappear from consciousness."
I was now armed with this tremendous viewpoint, the statements from Science and Health, and the point underscored by class instruction. The thought came to claim these freshly revealed facts of God and man for myself and for all. This new view of the spiritually scientific facts of being was demanding a new perception of Christian Science practice. Spiritually scientific practice now appeared to be divinely impelled obedience to the already established facts of being. These facts, coming from Mind and appearing as our inspired thought through the activity of the Christ, demanded acknowledgment.
A wonderful strength, conviction, and clarity of thought impelled me to an acknowledgment of the facts of being as I had never acknowledged them before. It was clear to me that there is only one Mind and that God is the Mind of all. God's allness rules out even the possibility of a belief in another mind, another substance, another creator. Therefore, I saw that the one whom I was so concerned about did not have to continue going through terrible ordeals.
This very powerful realization kept coming to thought. I felt a sense of peace. When I finally got up from my study to begin my day, I noticed that the growth on my head had softened. At that moment, I knew healing was taking place. The Truth had been so revealed that it had caused a tremendous change in me. All day I felt uplifted, clear, joyous, and so grateful for the wonderful spiritual insight that had come. That night I went to sleep with confident assurance of God's great love for all.
In the middle of the night I wakened. I felt a sense of divine Love's presence that I have never known before. This consciousness of Love's presence was very vivid, and I became aware of further change taking place. The next morning, I found the growth to be entirely gone. The only thing that remained was a small incision which drained over a short period until the healing was complete.
Quietly that morning, I shared this wonderful experience with my husband, who rejoiced with me in witnessing the healing. I will always be extremely grateful for his strong support of my choice in relying on Christian Science. Much other tangible good came as a result of this healing.
For the privilege of catching a glimpse of this divine, universal Truth, and for being a student of this precious Science, I am deeply and humbly grateful.
Rowayton, Connecticut
In the ten years of our marriage, Susan has often shown her dedication to the practice of Christian Science. Not being a Christian Scientist, I was very comforted by the ease and harmony with which this healing came. I had been aware of this longstanding physical difficulty and
had tried to support her by not bringing attention to it. I am very grateful for this healing and am pleased to confirm that it occurred as my wife has written.
