Mrs. Eddy states in Retrospection and Introspection (p. 21), "It is well to know, dear reader, that our material, mortal history is but the record of dreams, not of man's real existence, and the dream has no place in the Science of being." I have begun to understand what Mrs. Eddy means in the above statement and to appreciate the fact that all that is going on is the dawning of light (understanding) in human consciousness.
The earliest recollections of my childhood include war, poverty, exile, moving from one displaced-persons camp to another, vague memories of a homeland, Latvia, and then being thrust into a completely new world of what seemed fast-moving and fast-speaking people whose language I could not speak or understand. But when we came to the United States, my parents began to attend a Church of Christ, Scientist, regularly, and my brother and I were enrolled in the Sunday School.
It was about this time that I had a healing in Christian Science which meant a great deal to me. I remember being bewildered, unhappy, and having difficulty with my teacher at school. In desperation I turned to God for help. Although I did not understand most of what I read, I faithfully read one section of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly every day, and the light came, for I progressively improved in understanding my relationship with God, and also in speaking and writing English. The bewilderment and unhappiness as well as the difficulty with my teacher, disappeared. I do not recall the specific truths that helped me at this time, but I know I gained from my consistent study of the lesson a feeling of peace and harmony.
Another instance of God's care that stands out to me occurred when it was time for me to attend a university. There just did not seem to be any funds available. I knew the desire to attend college was not selfish, that right desire is prayer and God answers our right desires, and that Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 195), "Observation, invention, study, and original thought are expansive and should promote the growth of mortal mind out of itself, out of all that is mortal." I also had the prayerful help of a devoted Christian Science practitioner. A way to pay for part of the tuition was worked out; I was given a scholarship in ballet, which I had studied and loved since early childhood. While in college, I found that I had talent in the other arts, and I expanded my education to include music, art, and drama in addition to my academic subjects. After college I began to realize that the greatest art is in living Christian Science, in recognizing and living God's qualities no matter what our human employment may be.
As a young girl I believed that if I ever married it could only be to a Latvian because Latvian meant "home" to me. As I grew wiser, I realized that it is not the nationality one marries and lives with but the good qualities of thought, which attract and hold, and which we feel at home with; these are not restricted to any nationality, race, or ethnic group. As we read in the Bible (Acts 10:34, 35), "God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." I saw that in reality there is only one infinite Mind and its ideas. Science and Health says (p. 517), "God has countless ideas, and they all have one Principle and parentage." This realization resulted in my marrying an American who is a consecrated Christian Scientist. Shortly after we were married we received class instruction together, which has given us a much clearer understanding of God and man.
I am grateful for the harmonious birth of our baby at home and for the lesson learned from this experience. Since the birth process seemed prolonged and the doctor did not come until after the baby had arrived, I accepted the suggestion that I was the victim of circumstances. I was in pain. Then I realized that, as God's idea, I was not separate from the one Mind and that I was not dependent upon human help. Right ideas are not external to us. They come from Mind. Man does not have to acquire them, but includes them. Soon the ideas needed in that situation came to me, the pain ceased, and then the baby arrived quickly. I am very grateful for the help of a dedicated Christian Science practitioner during this experience.
More recently my husband became ill with a contagious disease. Through grateful prayer to God I was able to maintain freedom for myself and our little son, and my husband was healed. We have had many other proofs that Christian Science heals.
I am deeply grateful to our Father-Mother God and for Christ Jesus and Mrs. Eddy for their pureness and unselfishness in leading us in the right way.
Elkhart, Indiana
