Testimony of Healing January 4, 1969 ISSUE

I can never cease to express my gratitude to God for leading me...

John Connell

I can never cease to express my gratitude to God for leading me into Christian Science when I was very ill and the way seemed dark and frightening. I had been brought up in the Church of Scotland, but I had never found an explanation of God that satisfied me. It seemed inconceivable to me that the creator could allow illness, poverty, and war, or that God intended humans to live in ignorance, and I read extensively in search of the truth.

I came upon Christian Science after I had been away from employment for six months and could scarcely eat food because of a severe digestive complaint. My job was held open for me, but I could see no prospect of ever getting well. Finally, in sheer desperation, I appealed one night to God for help. On waking the following morning—much to my amazement—I felt much better. I determined to go back to work—but not before an important event occurred.

While in London with a relative for a short holiday, I noticed a Christian Science Reading Room. I summoned the courage to enter and ask questions. When I began to read Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, I knew that I had found what I had always been looking for. I returned to my employment in Glasgow. My employers had been very considerate during my six months' absence and had paid me all the while. Soon I found a local Church of Christ, Scientist, and a new way of living.

Five years ago when I seemed to be experiencing difficult relationships with some people with whom I worked, a desire to resolve the problem led me to earnest daily prayer. I made a continuing effort to see God's perfect ideas in those individuals where the difficulty appeared to be greatest, and I managed to overcome an attitude of self-importance.

Several weeks later, chastened but glad to have made spiritual progress, I was suddenly offered an opportunity by my trade union to attend a residential course on industrial relations at a university college. An article that I wrote concerning this experience interested a magazine editor, and he invited me to write a regular column on trade union affairs. My activity with this journal has lasted five years and has proved to me that rightful employment follows when we live in daily obedience to God's law of love.

I am grateful to God for rescuing me as a young adult, for a growing understanding of Mrs. Eddy's teachings—which has been greatly aided by primary class instruction—and for the way divine Love has continued to lead me from materialism to a diviner sense of life.

John Connell, Glasgow, Scotland

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