When one day I started having difficulty breathing, I allowed myself to become very fearful about it. The condition continued to worsen. Quickly I asked my wife to call a Christian Science practitioner. He asked to talk with me, and when I picked up the phone, the first thing he asked me was if I had a Christian Science Hymnal in the house. I managed to say I did, and he then told me to turn to number 144 and to ponder the meaning of its words. I was then to call him back when the healing was complete.
I read the first two lines: "In atmosphere of Love divine, / We live, and move, and breathe ..." That was it. I didn't have to go any further. Knowing I live in, and am totally surrounded by, God's love, I found the fear leaving my thought and being replaced by renewed understanding. And with that I breathed normally. I called the practitioner back (within five minutes) to let him know the healing was indeed complete.
When I was twelve years old I came down with a serious case of scarlet fever. A mastoid operation was performed, and shortly after that a second complication developed, hemorrhaging of the kidneys. I was rushed back to the hospital, and after about ten days the doctor explained to my parents that I had less than forty-eight hours to live. My father requested two kidney specialists be called, and they confirmed the diagnosis. They suggested that a priest or minister be called immediately, as they felt I would not last through the night. A minister was called from the church we then attended, and he came and prayed with my parents, asking God to accept me into heaven.
