Letters June 30, 1923 Issue

Letters from the Field

Gizella von Waltherr

"A brief review of my joyful time at the Christian Science Sanatorium groups itself into three divisions: first, the unfoldment and protection of a right desire that led me there; secondly, the lastingly helpful benefits received; and thirdly, the after effects of the visit.

"I began to long for a rest, having had a strenuous time for several years. I longed for a place among active Christian Scientists, who would make no demands on my time, as I wished to use my vacation to gain a clearer realization of the truth. I did not, therefore, wish to enter a private home and did not know that the Sanatorium admitted those whose problems were other than those of physical need. I made arrangements twice to leave on a two weeks' vacation; but both times my plans were frustrated, and all arrangements made had to be canceled at the last minute. Disappointment and resentment presented themselves as temptations, but both were dismissed. One day a friend who had just returned from a brief visit of inspection of the Sanatorium described the same to me in glowing terms; and I learned from her that any one could make application for admission there. Gratitude flooded my thought. I knew then that the right desire for the best place in which to gain a clearer understanding of Christian Science, within the twoweek period at my disposal, had been protected by Principle. When I saw the prices for paying guests, I perceived I should need almost all my available little stock of surplus funds; and the question presented itself: Since our Manual recommends economy, perhaps it is not wise to spend two weeks at the Sanatorium under such circumstances. This question was disposed of by the realization that if the Sanatorium was the right place for me, it was certainly right that I, a student of Christian Science, should pay my legitimate expenses there. A few hours before train time I learned that an unexpected check would be mailed me for an amount that more than paid all the expenses incident to my visit of two weeks, including the fare both ways.

"Secondly, from the time I arrived at Back Bay Station, Boston, at 6.55 a.m., to the time of leaving, I was conscious of the atmosphere of joyful anticipation of good. I specially refer to the time of my arrival at the Back Bay Station because my first impression of joyous strength, coupled with gentleness, was received there. A storm had delayed the car that was to meet me. The station was empty and cold. That in itself should not be enough to frighten any one; but suddenly I became afraid. There was no one around; I did not know the way to the Sanatorium; and I felt chilled, tired, and hungry. It seemed unkind to telephone and rouse people so early on a Sunday morning; but fear obtained the upper hand for the moment, and I called the number on the wire, rapidly and excitedly telling my tale of woe. It was courteously listened to without an interruption; and then a confident, cheerful voice replied briefly and to the point. The message of joyful assurance, of confident expectation of good and good only, made an impression never to be forgotten, instantly replacing with calm confidence the fear in my own thought, and giving the keynote to the atmosphere of the Sanatorium itself, where the attitude of every member of the staff is one of good-will to all, not just good-will,—sweet, but helpless,—but the good-will that heals. A few mimutes later the car arrived, its owner fairly beaming with good-will, strength, and gentleness. Physical healing had not entered into my thought when I made application for admission; but in this atmosphere of love, lived, I was healed, without a conscious effort on my part, of three physical ailments that had stubbornly refused to yield in spite of earnest and, in one instance, prolonged work for relief. Here they just melted away.

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