Five years ago Christian Science seemed to me like a light...

Elise Werner

Five years ago Christian Science seemed to me like a light in the darkest night of despair. I had lost my nearest relatives in quick succession, and reproached myself bitterly with not having shown them sufficient love while they were yet here. For many years I had led a retired life in a beautiful garden-world, as it were, bathing in light and air, while my nourishment consisted practically of fruit only; and all this because it appealed so much to me. My health also seemed to have improved. At length, however, a rough hand startled me from these beautiful dreams. I felt as if the sun had ceased to emit light and warmth, as if my flowers had lost their smile, and presently old ills returned, such as severe headache, a stomach trouble, and great nervousness. Thus I saw that health is a mental state, and it also became gradually clear to me that all physical perceptions and concepts, whether beautiful or repulsive, are no more real than is a mirage, which may be beautiful but is always deceptive. Viewed in this light, our text-book became indeed a "Key to the Scriptures;" moreover, it furnished me with a higher interpretation of the events in nature. One glory was followed by another, one error yielded after another. Glasses which I had worn for twelve years and which had to be replaced at intervals by stronger ones, were discarded two years ago.

Not all wrong states of consciousness have yielded, but I know that God is on the side of honest endeavor. For this recognition, and the accompanying blessings, all of which I could not enumerate, and especially for the grace bestowed upon me in that I am able to help my brothers and sisters as I have been helped, I give thanks to the dispenser of all good. I have seen measles vanish before the recognition of the truth while I was yet reading the Lesson-Sermon. I have seen serious throat trouble healed with one treatment, and so-called bacteria return to their native nothingness as the parasites used to disappear in my garden. "Whatever blesses one blesses all" (Science and Health, p. 206), and every loving treatment, every testimony given, every one of our inspired Lesson-Sermons, every article in our periodicals, every triumph over error, and every word of encouragement from our brethren who command a wider outlook than ours, helps us to climb higher up Jacob's ladder, to emerge from sense-thraldom, to rise to the glorious heights where all fetters fall and man is recognized to be the child of God, where there is no false accuser, where is "neither sorrow, nor crying," and "Love sends forth her primal and everlasting strain" (Science and Health, p. 568).

We thank God here in our fatherland, and are grateful to our dear Leader, that we have in these seemingly so serious times the glad tidings of Christian Science, which has become more generally accessible through the translation of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," whereby we have a firm support and may stand on the rock of truth, which cannot be shaken either by stress or storm. We know that there is no reality in error, and we can see that the wrath of the people must serve the Lord, clearing the mental atmosphere of the passions which have kindled the fire of the present conflict; that all people may see more and more clearly, while yet the storm is roaring, the Christ-idea walking on the waves, the ideal of perfect humanity; that the bonds of peace "which passeth all understanding" may soon unite all nations under one Father who is in heaven, who forgiveth all our iniquities, who healeth all our diseases.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Five years ago Christian Science seemed to me like a light...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access