Testimony of Healing October 25, 1947 Issue

From the time I was very small,...

Ray G. Bridgeman

From the time I was very small, I was afraid of water. The fear seemed to be something I could not overcome, although I was a student of Christian Science. When I joined the United States Navy the first thing that I saw was a sign, "If your ship sinks can you swim?" I went to swimming classes, but never learned how to swim. After my training they put me on a ship, and it surely was a large one. Then out into the battle zone we went. Four of us who were Christian Scientists started a Sunday School. We read the Lesson-Sermon from the Christian Science Quarterly every day we could, either in the morning or in the evening.

After going through many engagements, I grew to like my ship more and more, but as time went on the engagements became heavier and more frequent. One morning, a very nice morning indeed, "general quarters" sounded. As I always had done before, I thought of my favorite words (Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, p. 494), "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." I was no sooner at my station than a bomb hit amidship, and then everything went up. Everybody was confused, and the smoke was getting very thick below decks. The first thing I did was to say the Lord's Prayer, but very rapidly, as I used to do when late for school.

Then I proceeded to do my work aboard ship, lining up hose, and was just about to turn my valve hose on a fire when I was blown about twenty-five feet. I got up again and proceeded, but the ship was sinking and there was no water in the hose. I ran to the forward part of the ship and there proceeded to throw overboard parts of wood or anything that would float. Finally the word came, that word I was not longing for, "Abandon ship, all hands!" Everyone was going over the side, and mortal mind kept telling me, "Here is your end."

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