Shortly after my marriage I was drafted into the...

Shortly after my marriage I was drafted into the United States Army and in a few short weeks was on my way overseas. During this voyage I received my first healing in Christian Science. On the day we left port, the sea became rough, and many of the troops were seasick. The mortal picture being presented was pretty bad; soon the swells of the sea and the motion of the ship had me succumbing to this belief also. Immediately I went below deck and began reading an article from a Christian Science pamphlet that had been given to me by my wife shortly before the ship's departure. As I recall, the article referred to Daniel and his experience in the den of lions. Daniel did not swerve from his steadfast reliance on God but remained true to Him. Being obedient to God and listening for His direction delivered him from the danger. When King Darius returned to the lions' den the morning after he'd cast Daniel into it, he called (Dan. 6:20): "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" Daniel answered that God had shut the lions' mouths and added (v. 22): "Forasmuch as before him [God] innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." This must have taken tremendous trust on Daniel's part to rely steadfastly on God's protection in the face of what appeared to be overwhelming odds. But what a victory!

I was so inspired by this Bible account and these words of Mary Baker Eddy's from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p. 385): "Let us remember that the eternal law of right, though it can never annul the law which makes sin its own executioner, exempts man from all penalties but those due for wrong-doing." When I had finished reading the article, I was completely free of the seasickness. And I did not have a recurrence of this problem for the remainder of the twelve-day voyage.

More recently, just a few days before I was to begin a term as First Reader for our branch church, I found I could not see and could scarcely talk above a whisper. The problem appeared to be an infection. I telephoned a Christian Science practitioner for help in realizing the unreality of this frightening situation. He said, "Go right back to God and know that He will supply the words for a harmonious service—not you."

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March 15, 1982
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