"My heart is singing: I have...

Mary Louise Arlen

"My heart is singing: I have found the way." These words from Hymn No. 64 in the Christian Science Hymnal inspired me to write this testimony to express humble gratitude for God's goodness in leading me to a religion that is a demonstrable healing remedy for every human discord.

For many years I had been in and out of hospitals to have treatment for a painful kidney and bladder condition. There were other complications, named tumorous, for which I had undergone surgery. But more tumors had appeared, and I was preparing for a second operation. Besides this, I felt burdened with the care of a dear one who had lived with me most of my married life. All this resulted in a depressed mental state of frustration, resentment, and self-pity.

A healing through prayer was farthest from my thought. Then one day I found among some old books that had been in the family for years a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. The cover was off and pages were missing; but I opened it at random and began to read. As I read I felt a growing sense of respect and reverence for the author, whose words illumined my thought with a new concept of God and man. The comfort and love that poured forth from its pages made an immediate change in my life.

One passage became clear to me. It reads (p. 151): "All that really exists is the divine Mind and its idea, and in this Mind the entire being is found harmonious and eternal. The straight and narrow way is to see and acknowledge this fact, yield to this power, and follow the leadings of truth." Everyone I saw I recognized as being in reality an idea in the divine Mind, in which "being is found harmonious and eternal."

I became so intent on learning to see man in a spiritual way that I forgot about myself. Some time later I realized I was healed of all the physical trouble. That was many years ago. There was no operation, and the healing has been permanent. I was also freed from the state of depression and regained my happiness and a sense of purpose.

Soon I began to attend Sunday services and Wednesday evening testimony meetings at a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. Thoughtful friends acquainted me with the Quarterly Bible Lessons. The Bible verse, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32), encouraged me in the study of these weekly lessons. During my first months of study, there were healings of migraine, an abnormal appetite, and internal hemorrhoids. A decaying condition of the fingernails, which a skin specialist called an infection and which did not yield to medical treatment, was also healed.

Mrs. Eddy's comforting words (Science and Health, p. 66', "Each successive stage of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love," freed me from a false sense of responsibility and separation when, within a short time, my mother passed on, one son left home to join the armed services, and our other son went away to college. The understanding of man's inseparable relationship to his Father-Mother God revealed unseen love and goodness in our home and joy-filled hours in church activities.

Severe hemorrhages, which became more frequent over a period of two years, were relieved by a study of the Lord's Prayer and its spiritual interpretation from Science and Health. Selflessness, stillness, and poise came when these words were prayed and not merely voiced (p. 17):

"Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Enable us to know,—as in
heaven, so on earth,—God is
omnipotent, supreme."

As self-will, condemnation, and impatience were replaced by love, humility, and more gratitude, the healing came. With the spiritual support of a practitioner I was able to rejoice all through this experience, which strengthened my conviction that "God is omnipotent, supreme."

Words fail to express fully my gratitude for our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, and for our dear Leader. I am grateful for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church, for the blessedness of class instruction, and for the good that Christian Science is doing for my family and mankind.—(Mrs.) Mary Louise Arlen, Northville, Michigan.

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