Testimony of Healing June 17, 1922 Issue

We are told that "man's extremity is God's opportunity;"...

Raymond F. Ballard, Sr.

We are told that "man's extremity is God's opportunity;" but some of us at times have been unwilling to acknowledge that we have reached that extremity. It was so in my case. In 1906 I had been addicted to the use of narcotics, morphine, opium, and cocaine for a number of years. I had, up to that time, tried every known so-called cure without having in the least been freed from the enslaving bondage of this desire.

While visiting my relatives in Denver at this time, Christian Science was brought to my attention. I, however, refused even to investigate its teachings, believing, as I then did, that it was just one of the many religious beliefs about God. So I went on for seven years more, trying over again the remedies prescribed or suggested by medical practice. In 1910 I asked to be incarcerated where I could not obtain the drug, in hopes of being healed in that manner. I was none benefited at the end of the period of incarceration, because the desire for narcotics was as persistent and aggressive as ever. In 1913 I had reached a stage of complete mental, moral, and physical collapse, and decided to try what I determined then to be the final effort to free myself from the drug habit; namely, going to the mountains, far away from the source of any drug supply, and staying there until cured.

Before I left for the mountains, a good friend one day placed in my hands a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and told me to take it with me to the mountains if I wished. I took the book, but scarcely glanced at its pages during my stay. I came back to Seattle thoroughly broken and discouraged, because it seemed then that there was no cure for this habit. One afternoon, I left home with no particular purpose in view, but thinking, Oh, how I wish I might be free from this habit! In some unaccountable manner (unaccountable then, but now recognized as divine guidance) I walked into the office of a Christian Science practitioner, saying I was down and out, and if Christian Science could help me I would try it. I did not mention being addicted to narcotics; nor did I ask for a treatment for the narcotic addiction. Christian Science treatment was given me; and that night there came to my consciousness an influence which I had never before known, an uplift of thought and a measure of quietness. I went to another city at this time, but found the craving for narcotics still aggressive. It was at this point that examination of the good that had come into my life through Christian Science compelled me to recognize as genuine whatever did it. I then wired to a practitioner, asking her to take up treatment for narcotic addiction. She did so; and in six weeks' time I was completely healed; and it was indeed like laying aside heavy shackles. The healing itself has been sufficient cause for deep gratitude; but the spiritual uplift and the new understanding of God and His creation is indeed more than I ever hoped for. Since that time good, beyond anything that I could have planned or outlined, has come to me.

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