Testimony of Healing October 26, 1974 Issue

My family and I had an opportunity a few years ago to spend a...

Lawrence A. Backus with contributions from Asceneth H. Backus

My family and I had an opportunity a few years ago to spend a holiday weekend on a private island accessible only by boat from the nearby mainland. At dusk on the second evening of our stay, I was climbing a tree. Suddenly the branch I was resting my full weight upon broke, and I fell a distance of about ten feet to the ground. When I tried to stand, I discovered that three rusty spikes fastened to a two-by-four lying on the ground had been driven into my leg.

My first thought at that moment was, "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter," the first line of "thescientific statement of being" found on page 468 of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. I had learned this statement in full by heart as a child in the Christian Science Sunday School. With the help of another I was able to stand and limp back to the main cabin area. I began praying to know my perfection as God's child but became fearful of infection and death. I repeated over and over, "God is my Life."

In a short time a boat was brought, and a friend offered to drive us back to the city. In spite of my prayers I was still afraid, and therefore on the way we stopped to call a Christian Science practitioner in a distant city. My leg had become stiff and difficult to move. Though it was one in the morning when the practitioner came to the phone, his calm patience and good nature were reassuring.

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