Although I had experienced healing after reading parts of the Manual of The Mother Church and also parts of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, both by Mary Baker Eddy, and although I was aware of Mrs. Eddy’s focus on spiritual healing, I had never become a church member because I was never convinced that I really understood Christian Science. I even wondered if my prior healings might have occurred anyway, regardless of whether I had ever heard of Christian Science. But all of this changed one day years ago.
I telephoned a Christian Science practitioner and asked for her prayerful help in combating severe coughing and breathing difficulties. By this time, I knew enough about Christian Science to know that it explains that God made each of us spiritual and good, and that what wasn’t of God did not ultimately have power. For five days, the practitioner gave me Christian Science treatment and also suggested passages to read from Science and Health, but I was still ill.
By Friday, my assistant at work insisted that I go see a doctor because she was sure I had pneumonia. As an Army officer, I went to the Army doctor, who confirmed I indeed had pneumonia, and he prescribed antibiotics for me to take. I picked up the prescription, went home, and called the practitioner, planning to release her from providing Christian Science treatment for me.
