Testimony of Healing March 15, 1993 Issue

As a lifelong Christian Scientist, I once envied people who...

John Douglas Wood

As a lifelong Christian Scientist, I once envied people who had found this religion later in life. I thought I had missed the experience of awakening into spiritual consciousness in a moment of great inspiration.

This misconception was corrected when I came to understand that each student of Christian Science must make it his or her own; there is no free ride on a parent's (or any other person's) shoulders. Paul said, "Work out your own salvation." Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Science and Health, "The recognition of Spirit and of infinity comes not suddenly here or hereafter" and "Emerge gently from matter into Spirit. Think not to thwart the spiritual ultimate of all things, but come naturally into Spirit through better health and morals and as the result of spiritual growth." Pondering these statements, I began to see that I'd had many instances of spiritual insight and healing.

My first healing that came completely on my own happened when I was at Boy Scout camp. With an upset stomach and a pounding headache, I wanted to be by myself to pray as I had learned in Sunday School. The only place I could think of was the "kybol," which was basically a large outhouse. I paced back and forth, saying "the scientific statement of being" aloud from memory. (This statement can be found on page 468 in Science and Health.) I said it over and over. Finally I began to listen to the words. Slowing down and thinking about their meaning, I glimpsed my true, spiritual nature and was immediately healed. This experience has always stood out to me as a wonderful example of divine Love being omnipresent and meeting my need—even in an outhouse on a hot summer day!

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