After leaving home and moving to a house of my own, I was working on some carpentry and injured myself, such that there was evidence of internal bleeding. It is an understatement to say that I was frightened.
I was alone at the time, and tried to address the problem with my understanding of Christian Science, without apparent success. My anxiety was such that I rang a friend who was a Christian Science practitioner. While I do not remember her exact words, I remember vividly that within moments of putting down the phone, I realized how much I had been frightened. Specifically, I was frightened of a material predicament—something that I knew from my study of Christian Science was spiritually unreal. The sense of fear melted away, and was replaced by a sense of stillness. I was deeply grateful for this wonderful revelation—for realizing the spiritual reality of the situation. And for immediately becoming so much calmer.
The symptoms did not change at that point, but I knew that with the clarity and spiritual insight I had gained—that I was a whole, intact idea of God—I would make progress.
A few days later, I was reading Mary Baker Eddy’s description of man in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “. . . he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements” (p. 475). At that point I suddenly felt within me something knitting together. At first I was tempted to be amazed. Then I quickly realized that this was not amazing—but a normal demonstration of God, Life, as understood in Christian Science.
This was many years ago, and within a couple of weeks the healing was complete. The internal bleeding stopped and has never returned.
I have had many healings since. For these, and for the immediate loving help of a practitioner, and Mary Baker Eddy’s selfless sharing of Christian Science with the world, I am truly grateful.
Nicholas Bradshaw
London, England
