ONE DAY, about fifteen years ago, I started to feel ill while at home, so I called a Christian Science practitioner for help through prayer. While I had heard of such things happening to others, I was nevertheless amazed when I became instantly well upon hearing the practitioner's loving "hello" when she answered the phone. To me, this was a present-day replication of what is recorded in Matthew when people were healed by the Christ when they only touched the hem of Jesus' garment (seee Matt. 14:36). Similarly, in my case, I think the purity of the practitioner's Christly consciousness coupled with my expectant thought resulted in such an immediate and complete healing.
Then came the challenging winter of 2000-2001. At first, I thought I was just lonely and depressed because my only child had moved out of state for graduate school, the uncle who had raised me had passed on, and my wife had taken a job that left me in a very empty nest. And I rarely left this lonesome nest since my employment was running a home-based business. Then other problems arose. Welts appeared on my torso, and every time I moved, I was in pain. I became lethargic and dozed off frequently. I was reduced to a semi-vegetative, housebound state. Then, over a period of a few days, I had the peculiar feeling that my internal organs were starting to shut down and that I wasn't far from death.
At this point, I finally rebelled against this moribund, incapacitated state of existence by calling a Christian Science practitioner.
He directed me to read some of Mrs. Eddy's bold statements on pages 392-393 of Science and Health. Many of these statements are in the imperative form, divinely inspired commands that deliver a powerful, invigorating message. Statements such as " ... shut out these unhealthy thoughts and fears ... Exclude from mortal mind the offending errors ... Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action ... Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God's government."
Within five minutes of hanging up the phone and immediately beginning the recommended readings, the gloom lifted, and I felt 100 percent confident that, as the Psalmist said, "I [would] not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord" (Ps. 118:17). Right away I was able to move more freely, and within a few days I completely returned to normalcy. After that, my life became more balanced and normal. That whole grim period now seems like a strange dream from which I am so grateful to have been awakened.
Then, a few years ago, I had my own little "Easter" experience. Tuesday of Easter week, I went outside our house to spray some wasps that were infesting our wooden porch. The product I used was potent and poisonous. On this day, a sudden gust of wind blew the spray back into my face just as I was inhaling. I immediately began to affirm to myself that I am spiritual and that I could not be touched by any poison. I felt sluggish and only mildly uncomfortable—at least for a while. By evening, I felt less well, and so I asked my wife to go to our branch church's quarterly business meeting without me while I called a practitioner for help.
When I went to bed that night, I had considerable discomfort in my stomach and chest. A couple of hours later, I awoke in acute distress. The symptoms were intense, and I became alarmed. I woke my wife, stumbled into the bathroom, and collapsed unconscious onto the floor. The next thing I knew, I became aware of my wife standing over me, holding one of my hands up by her waist, shaking the whole arm and emphatically declaring to me, "God is your life."
That moment of awakening was a holy moment—what I think of as my own mini-resurrection. I felt no more pain or fear. Instead, I just lay there, enjoying a sweet, calm sense of peace. The aggressive feelings of oppression in my lungs and stomach had completely disappeared. My wife then phoned the practitioner who had been praying with me. My wife handed me the phone where I was lying on the floor. You never would have guessed it was the wee hours of the morning. This alert and dedicated practitioner strongly and lovingly continued to pray for me, defending this resurrection experience from any potential reversal. I returned to bed, rested comfortably and peacefully for the rest of the night, and resumed my normal activities the next day.
Through these and many other healing experiences, I am in awe of the power of the Christ Science to heal, save, and restore.
NEW WILMINGTON PENNSYLVANIA, US
When I heard Mark fall, I ran to the bathroom and found him unconscious on the floor. He appeared stiff. In that first moment I became calm and quiet, listening for the "still small voice" of God to guide me (I Kings 19:12). It quickly occurred to me to take Mark's hand and shake it gently, but firmly. Then in a loud voice, I repeated to him several times, "God is your life." As I did, Mark began to move. After several minutes, he completely revived.
How grateful I am for the calm and peace I felt when I found my husband. This came, I am sure, from the divine presence, the great and good God from whom we can never be separated. And, of course, I am most grateful for Mark's immediate recovery. I am so indebted to Christian Science for all it teaches us about God, in whom "we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28), and who is always "a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1).
