Christian Science came to me about four and a half years...

Martha Schickler

Christian Science came to me about four and a half years ago, at a time when I was becoming apathetic and indifferent to conditions which seemed ready to overwhelm me. Although I considered myself a good Christian, the concept that I then had of God was rather vague, and especially I could feel no trust in a God whose will it was to send suffering upon men in order to make them better; for how was I to avoid misfortune when God perhaps thought it necessary to send it upon me?

When in this state of mind I heard of Christian Science, just as I was expecting to undergo an operation. The year before, I had spent eight months in the mountains to strengthen my lungs. I returned apparently well, but in a few months the trouble returned and I was advised to make another stay in the mountains. By all this I was so depressed that the message of Christian Science at first seemed incredible to me; but I soon gained confidence, dismissed the physicians, and began treatment. In six months I was healed, and since then have not spent a day in bed. I then began to demonstrate Christian Science, to prove my understanding of the truth, and I can say that I received many proofs of God's omnipotence in my family. For four years we have not had any need of physician or apothecary, although they were formerly our continual guests. The power of Truth over error has been quickly proved, especially for my children, even when the ailments had assumed very threatening forms. Not alone in physical sickness is the power of Truth supreme, but also in cases of mental suffering divine Mind is our only physician, and understanding of this has resolved many discords into harmony.

I have now learned to seck the cause of all error in myself,—to destroy fear and belief in the power of evil in my own consciouness, and no longer to make a person or circumstances responsible, even when according to the old way of thought they might seem to be so. We must sit in inexorable judgment on ourselves and examine our thinking by the light of Truth, and frankly recognize our faults, even if they bear the ugly names of envy, anger, doubt, etc., for only thus are we startled at what dwells in our hearts and ready to cast it out. When we know that Christ, Truth, is spiritually as near to us as to the disciples of old, we place ourselves and all our affairs under divine care, and recognize that all error is already destroyed. We do not need to fear, for we have Christ, Truth, with us, and this makes it clear what Jesus would do in a similar case. In the truth we have harmony now, as with God there is only today. Often the warfare may seem severe, but instanding for the right we grow and become strong in understanding. We even fight joyfully, because the smallest thought of truth bears its fruit and does not return to us void. God has thoughts of peace and not of evil toward us; and no one shall be able to pluck us out of His hand. We cannot be grateful enough to our dear Leader for bringing to us the right understanding of Truth.

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