It was in a little mid-German university town, where I...

Richard Wolfgang Schapiro

It was in a little mid-German university town, where I was studying, that I became interested in Christian Science in 1926. After various minor demonstrations, which proved to me the correctness of Mary Baker Eddy's teachings, I had the privilege a year later of experiencing the power of Christian Science in a larger way. I was to take an examination which was of great importance to me. The mounting fear of the examination and attendant symptoms had been quieted through the work of a local practitioner to whom I had turned for help. It soon seemed, however, as if everything opposed the harmonious outcome of the examination. I was informed that I had been referred for the examination to an out-of-town school, entirely strange to me. The thought of having to face an examining board quite unknown to me and in an entirely strange environment roused in me further anxiety. To this were added problems of supply of various kinds.

Nevertheless, with the blessed help that came to me through the practitioner's work, all these difficulties were overcome; and it was not long before I had to acknowledge that the apparently hostile features had really worked together for my good. For this understanding, which first came to me at that time—namely, that God ordains only good for us—I am very grateful to the practitioner, since it came to me through her work.

But I was to have another experience, even more important to me. My examination was divided into two parts: a period of four days for written work and a period for oral work. Between the two, as a rule, there was a lapse of about four weeks; and the review of the subjects for oral examination was deferred to that time. At the conclusion of the written examination, which went well, I was informed that the oral examination would take place two days later. To go home and return left but one day for review. I was so desperate that I decided to withdraw from the examination. While the individual subjects, the reviewing of which I had slighted, were not of first importance, nevertheless they could be my undoing when considered in their relation to the whole. I tried three times to get in touch with the chairman of the examining board to tell him of my decision; but I failed each time. In the meantime, however, I grew more quiet. I remembered my duty as a Christian Scientist, not to let myself be frightened by mortal mind, in whatever form it confronted me.

Since I saw clearly that according to human opinion it was impossible for me in that short time to recall the knowledge I had acquired a year and a half before, I tried, so far as in me lay, to support in thought the practitioner's work for me. On the appointed day I went into the examination with perfect confidence in God, knowing that all He ordained for me was good alone. After five hours of oral examination I passed. The Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, which was a great help and support to me at that time, continues to this day to help and support me; and when I think gratefully of its author a deep reverence fills me for her, whose life-work it was to help humanity in the way Christ Jesus helped it. I ask God to give me not only "to will" but "to do," that I may prove my gratitude to Him in word and in deed.—Richard Wolfgang Schapiro, Gauting b. Munich, Germany.

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