More than twenty years ago I was encouraged to explore Christian Science. The more I inquired, attended church, and read articles in Christian Science literature, the more convinced I became that, at last, here was the way for me to follow in.

Then an instantaneous healing proved to me the rightness of this path I had chosen. While on a car trip, my wife and I stopped to visit her daughter, whose home was located in an old western town. This town had been constructed to accommodate the horse and carriage era, with very high curbs and a hitching post in front of each house.

After our visit, as we were returning to the car, I stepped off the curb and my foot folded under. I felt much tearing and severe pain in my foot and ankle. I placed my hands on my knees to brace myself, and immediately began to repeat and ponder "the scientific statement of being" (found on page 468 of Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy). I had read of many instances where this had been done in times of great personal trial or injury. Waves of blackness tried to overcome me, but I kept repeating aloud, though softly, the words of the statement.

My wife and daughter became curious because of my delay, and asked what was going on, to which I replied, "Nothing." At that moment a clear, calm inner voice said to me, "Straighten out that leg." The loving authority with which this message came commanded my immediate obedience. I straightened the leg. There was a loud snap from the foot, heard by the group about twenty feet away. They came over to see what was going on. I assured them that all was well.

I was able to walk, and we got into the car and proceeded on our journey. Upon arriving at our destination that evening, when removing my shoes and socks, I saw no discoloration and no swelling. There was never any more pain, not the slightest sign of injury, although dire consequences had been predicted when I told my wife about the accident.

A more recent healing involved a blemish on the tip of my nose. At first it didn't bother me much, and I didn't do any praying about the difficulty. However, as first weeks and then several months passed by, the growth became annoying and people began commenting on it. I wore a small bandage, but still I didn't pray as I had learned to.

What finally awakened me to pray was my son's suggestion that I ought to have the thing removed surgically. I started to go along with this, and made an appointment for a medical examination. After the examination, I was diagnosed as having a type of skin cancer, and arrangements were made for more extensive surgery. I came to a sudden realization that this was not the way I wanted to go. As a Christian Scientist, I wanted to rely on spiritual healing.

I canceled all medical arrangements and refrained from dwelling on a material body and a cancerous growth. I began to pray. Once again I studied "the scientific statement of being," to turn my thought away from matter to Spirit, and to contemplate the reality and perfection of my spiritual being. My Christian Science teacher stood by me and did not waver in her stand for Christian Science healing.

I knew that only by relying on Truth alone would I see actual healing take place—"Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realized" (Science and Health, p. 167). As I held in thought these truths, the blemish was gone in the space of about six weeks, and the condition has never returned. I learned from this experience that, the moment there is a sign of any trouble, discomfort, or malfunction, that is the time to deny immediately all discord and to affirm the presence of God, good.

Words cannot fully express my appreciation for these and many other healings, and especially for the accompanying spiritual growth. All of this would not have been possible without the discovery, by Mary Baker Eddy, of Christian Science.

Forrest M. Rishel
Red Bluff, California