Testimony of Healing June 11, 1932 Issue

For several years after becoming interested in Christian Science...

John H. Courtney

For several years after becoming interested in Christian Science I read and studied the subject only when I could not find anything else to do. After I had been building many years on what I considered sound foundations, there came a time when I found myself almost destitute of friends, without money or any means of meeting demands made upon me, and facing other very unpleasant circumstances, with a family to support. Such a dilemma was the plan of mortal mind to make me think there was no use in trying, no use in living; and that is the way I felt. I feebly resisted despair, but the time was long, dark, and depressing until through Christian Science I found that there was a lesson to learn before relief was attainable.

Then, prompted by promise, I began to study carefully and patiently the Christian Science texbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and other writings by Mary Baker Eddy. It was thus revealed to me that righteous activity was the primary and essential need. A diligent effort was begun to find daily activity without regard to compensation, but with the sole purpose and intent of doing good and glorifying God. For a time it seemed impossible to keep busy, and all I could find to do required only part of my time; and I received little remuneration for what I did do. But, as I can now see, after I had demonstrated sufficient faithfulness, my activity began to bear more fruit; and in less than a year from the outset I found it difficult to do all that was provided for me to do, all that seemed my duty and privilege to do. The compensation grew consistently, and both the second and the third year I received nearly twice the income of any previous year. I was able to liquidate mountains of long past due accounts, becoming entirely free from indebtedness, and friends multiplied many times more than I had before enjoyed. I began to attract the respect of others; losses were replaced; and joy and peace and love were more prevalent in my family. A lesson had been learned that brought with it great blessings—the lesson that every single one of God's ideas has a definite purpose in this field of service, on this plane of existence; the purpose of directly and indireclty serving our fellow men, the purpose of laboring for and glorifying God in practicing, teaching, and healing. I have also experienced many physical healings, of influenza, broken bones, contagious and other diseases, with the kindly assistance of a Christian Science practitioner. Physical imperfections of many years' standing have been corrected.

Engaged in a profession that requires a great deal of reading and study, I should like to say that the Christian Science textbook is the most used book in my office; and I can truthfully say that reading and studying this book adds more to the value of my services than all the other reading and studying that I do.

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