While I was at the beauty parlor one day, something happened...

While I was at the beauty parlor one day, something happened in my back and my whole body broke out in a sweat. I felt ill and faint. I was glad the beautician had finished and I could leave.

While heading home, I prayed for myself. I was afraid until the comforting thought came that God was right there with me, caring for me. Then I relaxed and slowly walked home, just enjoying the beauty all around and singing, "I walk with Love along the way, / And O, it is a holy day" (words from a hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal).

When I arrived home, the pain was still severe. I attempted to read the Bible Lesson and some Christian Science periodicals, but I could not concentrate.

As it was too painful to sit or lie down, I decided to walk around the room, firmly declaring aloud spiritual truths.

When I felt faint, I quickly sat down, and the thought came, "Don't hold Truth in matter." I gasped and murmured, "Dear God, is that what I am doing?" Was I applying Truth to matter —attempting to heal a physical condition instead of joyfully acknowledging my innate perfection as God's spiritual idea? In all honesty, I knew in my heart, there was no desire on my part to treat matter. Instantly the trouble left me.

In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy we read: "The Science of Mind-healing shows it to be impossible for aught but Mind to testify truly or to exhibit the real status of man. Therefore the divine Principle of Science, reversing the testimony of the physical senses, reveals man as harmoniously existent in Truth, which is the only basis of health; and thus Science denies all disease, heals the sick, overthrows false evidence, and refutes materialistic logic."

I was going downstairs when, much to my dismay, I started to limp. I then recalled having recently stepped in a hole in a parking lot. I had experienced a sharp pain but had not given it any attention.

While hobbling around the rest of the day, I kept asking myself, "Do I simply want better matter?" I knew the issue was so much greater to me. My wish was to see proof of man's spiritually perfect selfhood. Christ Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew).

The next morning there was progress, but toward evening it was almost impossible for me to walk. Upon retiring, I felt slightly discouraged. Yet I again affirmed my longing not to be fooled into simply wanting better matter. I again fervently took my stand for spiritual healing by acknowledging the truth of this statement in Science and Health: "Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind; nor can the material senses bear reliable testimony on the subject of health." The next day there was absolutely no trace of the difficulty. I was free!

My gratitude is not for these physical healings alone. Rather, it is more for the fact that through my aspiration to see God's spiritual, perfect man, I was not tempted into believing that healing was solely a question of matter having to be improved. As a result, what was claiming to hide the truth of being was dissolved, and healing occurred. I am always grateful for these growing experiences.

Alberta R. Cadmus
Stewart Manor, New York