"The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 574).

At one point a small growth appeared on my face and began to enlarge. For some time I prayed, endeavoring to perceive my true spiritual nature as God's image and likeness. In my prayer I acknowledged that since God makes only good, there is in reality no disease, flaw, or hidden error in His reflection, man. But just as I felt that I was really able to thoroughly grasp these facts, I would be frightened by the material evidence, and my hopes would be dashed again.

One day during a dental appointment the dentist noticed the growth on my face and said that he didn't wish to alarm me but that in his opinion it was a type of skin cancer. He wanted to recommend a physician to take care of it. I told him that I had been a Christian Scientist for the greater part of my adult life and that I depended on prayer for healing.

Overcome with fear, I returned home and called a Christian Science practitioner. She most lovingly reassured me that my God-given right to take my stand for healing in Christian Science could be in no way affected by this medical opinion.

Soon after that I was grateful to attend my annual Christian Science Students Association meeting, where I was deeply inspired by the address.

Yet I realized that I was still very much in need of help, as the growth was by then increasing in size, and there was much fear to contend with. So I again asked for continuous prayerful support from a practitioner, who lovingly and steadfastly stood by me through the remaining months of seeming captivity.

Daily I studied the Bible Lesson found in the Christian Science Quarterly. Through this study, which utilizes the Bible and Science and Health, I gained much hope and encouragement. The practitioner pointed out how the experiences of the characters in the Bible stories directly related to my present situation. This opened my thought to a much deeper understanding of God's omnipresence and His care and love for each of us right now.

I drew strength and inspiration from the account of Nehemiah, whose courage, spiritual vision, and steadfastness enabled him to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (see Neh., chaps. 2–6). I was also inspired by the story of Peter's imprisonment and subsequent release through prayer and total dependence on God (see Acts 12:1–11).

As the subtle suggestions of mortal belief, which seem to have been hidden deep in thought, were recognized and destroyed through prayer, I became aware of increased freedom, happiness, and dominion.

Because I had had many healings in Christian Science, I knew that through obedience to the precepts of Christian Science, which Christ Jesus had so clearly demonstrated in his career, and through my efforts to face down the fears and doubts by persevering in the truth, my freedom would come. And it did.

One night I said, "Father, this is just too much for me. You take over." About a day later, as I was washing my face before going to bed, the growth fell away. My joy was so great that I could hardly wait for my husband to wake up at dawn. When I heard him stir I turned on the light and said, "Please look at me." He was at first hardly able to believe it.

"The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation" (Science and Health, p. xi). This statement, brought to my attention when I was reaching out during a last moment of fear, confirmed my conviction that God, Truth, is the only power and healer.

My gratitude to God, for Christ Jesus our Way-shower, and for Mrs. Eddy, whose response to the "still small voice" of Truth enabled her to discover Christian Science and carry on her mission, is unbounded.

EMILY W. GAWLER
Basking Ridge, New Jersey

As Emily's husband, I was a witness to her courage and dedication in achieving this healing. There was much erroneous thinking about her on the part of others during the time that she was working this out. But she overcame all the fear associated with the condition and won her freedom from the false belief. I am grateful that we both are Christian Scientists.

ALAN GAWLER