During a Wednesday testimony meeting in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, a man in the congregation expressed his thanks to God for a recent healing of sickness. His remarks were a grateful tribute to God and to the healing power of His Christ.
"What a wonderful healing," I thought. I was so glad he was willing to share his gratitude for God's care. Then, right on the heels of this quiet appreciation, I realized I was free of an intestinal discomfort that had persisted for several days. The testifier and I had shared "the pinnacle of praise" referred to by Mary Baker Eddy in the Manual of The Mother Church: "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)." Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 24
What had healed me? Was it what the man said and how he said it? Or was it the Christlike atmosphere of the meeting, which enabled me to feel God's nearness? Or my receptivity to the spiritual facts of God and man? All of these were factors. Certainly the willingness of the testifier and the rest of us to be at the meeting had provided the opportunity for healing.