Testimony of Healing January 6, 1923 Issue

When Christian Science was brought to my attention...

George Wilkins Shuff

When Christian Science was brought to my attention, just a few years ago, I was facing the future with a growing sense of fear and misgiving. Increasing ill health, manifested in different forms, was gradually narrowing and darkening the horizon of life for me, and rendering the things, which at that time seemed most worth while, impossible of accomplishment. Professional authorities were consulted at various times, and their treatment adhered to; but, failing to effect a better condition of health, such treatment served only to deepen the fettering sense of disease and to further darken my outlook on the future, especially as, in the confusion of differing diagnoses, one physician warned me—in all kindness—that the basis of my difficulty was an inherited weakness from which I need never expect to be any freer than at that time, and that only by strict adherence to the system of hygiene which he outlined could I hope to avoid a general and permanent breakdown.

While I was in this state of fear and mental darkness, a good friend recommended the study of Christian Science, and offered me some literature, which I accepted rather in wonder that these good friends could really believe there was anything worth while in religion, as I had looked into several forms of it at various times and had honestly endeavored to practice their teachings, but, disappointed in a search for something vital in them, had turned from religion as entirely of no value, and felt that any form of it could no longer interest me. But the reading of Christian Science literature caused, to my surprise, a slight stir of interest, which was soon forgotten, however, in another period of illness that confined me to bed for several weeks under a material form of treatment. During convalescence, Christian Science was again brought to my attention, and the tremendous interest in this subject which suddenly blazed through my thought was irresistible, revolutionary, and lasting in its effect. Material forms of medication were at once discarded; the study of Christian Science was begun; and from that day to this the understanding of God as taught in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, has been my only means for restoring and maintaining health; while the gaining, through study and application, of a demonstrable knowledge of this exact Science of the Christ, Truth, has been and is the one thing in life absolutely worth while,—the "treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." With the awakened interest in Christian Science, and the earnest study of the textbook, physical difficulties began to fade away, and the spiritual sense of Life to pierce the gloom of depression and discouragement. The healing of mind and body was gradual, as old beliefs were dispelled by the growing light of Truth's dawn; but I can say without hesitation that, during the time that has elapsed since taking up the study of Christian Science, I have enjoyed an increasing abundance of good health and have gained an immeasurably wider outlook on life than ever before.

Words are entirely inadequate to express the joy and gratitude that I feel for the blessings which Christian Science has brought into my experience. I rejoice to be among the unnumbered multitude of grateful people who rise up to bless the name of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, for restoring to us in their original purity the teachings of that great demonstrator of spiritual law, Christ Jesus.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

When a child, I fell from a horse and injured the end of...