When, about thirteen years ago, I first had in my hand...

Pierre Widmer

When, about thirteen years ago, I first had in my hand our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, I remember that although I understood very little of it, I could hardly keep from reading it and something indefinable drew me to it.

A year later I was in need of help, mentally as well as physically, for I felt so depressed that the thought of suicide haunted me. In my despair I went to see a practitioner. When she explained Christian Science to me, I felt a great joy flow over me, and from that moment nothing could make me doubt that I had found the right way leading to Truth.

Having been brought up in the Protestant religion, I had quite a good knowledge of the Bible, but many things were obscure to me until our textbook made them clear. As a child I often had asked why the teachings of the Bible were not put into practice, and whether they were to be taken merely as a beautiful theory almost impossible of application in our present state of existence. Christian Science, of course, changed that point of view; and today I am happy to give this testimony of gratitude.

I wish to mention two instances when my own application of the truth was sufficient to demonstrate it: the first a business problem, and the second a case of illness.

For several years, when traveling on business, I often had visited a certain city without being able to do any business there. Each time I made the same trip, starting with that city; I saw every possible client, but had no success at all. Finally I decided to start with another place and went back to the hotel in order to get my luggage ready. While doing so, I set about bringing my thought into harmony with divine Principle. I recall that I did not outline any specific answer to my prayer, as we are so often tempted to do, but I realized very simply that God directs all His ideas and that, accordingly, I could be free from worry about the success of my trip. I then set out for the station. I was led to go through a little street which I had not been accustomed to take, and was surprised to see in a shop window articles similar to those I was offering. I went in, presented my goods, and did a large business that day; and that customer continued to order from me for many years. I am very grateful for this proof.

One day I was suddenly taken with severe physical pain. I resolved not to allow myself to be overcome by this form of error, and, being at home, I picked up Science and Health, greatly desiring to find there what I needed at the moment. I opened the book at random and came upon this sentence on page 120, "Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind." The spiritual sense of these few words was greatly illumined and I understood very clearly that since we are the children of God, reflecting divine Mind, we all possess health, in spite of every appearance to the contrary. I completely forgot my illness and was filled with a deep sense of peace. When I remembered the difficulty, perhaps an hour later, all pain had disappeared.

I am very grateful to God for leading me in the way of Truth, and I appreciate more and more the work of Mrs. Eddy, which enables us today to know this truth that makes us free.—Pierre Widmer, Paris, France.

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