I had a healing of a hearing difficulty, in which I had to be patient as I prayed.

A few years ago I woke in the morning unable to hear very well in one ear. At first I wasn't too disturbed about this, thinking the ear was just stopped up, and hearing would probably be back by the next day. This didn't happen.

I called a Christian Science practitioner to help me pray about this. She helped point my attention away from my ears and turned me to the spiritual fact that I am God's spiritual image and likeness. We had many discussions about the fact that true hearing is a quality of receptivity to God, and is not dependent on a material faculty.

I realized that I really needed to be sure I was listening to God in everything I did. I knew also that I needed to be still and quiet so that I could hear Him! This was an extreme time of testing for me, for, although I never had a desire for medical help, there was a constant nagging desire to adjust the ear with a cotton swab or to wiggle it—and this would be to no avail.

Also upsetting was that I had dealt with a similar condition over twenty-five years before. At that time I had had wax removed from my ear, which had turned out to be a somewhat painful process. Now I felt the demand was for me to turn totally away from any physical aspect and wholeheartedly to God for healing.

A favorite passage from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which I prayed to understand better during this time, was "Sight, hearing, all the spiritual sense of man, are eternal. They cannot be lost. Their reality and immortality are in Spirit and understanding, not in matter,—hence their permanence" (p. 486).

One day while driving to my Christian Science Association meeting, I listened to an audio recording of a Christian Science Sentinel radio broadcast. A college student told of having become blind, and having been completely healed through Christian Science. Prior to a complete healing, she had continued with her college activities while praying. I don't remember much now about the testimony, except that it brought a deep sense of humility to my thought.

I felt that if this young girl in college could go forward and trust her well-being to God while struggling with blindness, then I could carry on without any fear about my situation.

It was as if a state of mesmerism had been broken. All at once, after I had prayed consistently, the condition cleared, and I was able to hear perfectly.

A more recent healing I had was of a severe cold that would not let go. During this time I attempted to listen to God and to pray with consecration. Even before healing was completely evident, a clear sense of my oneness with God assured me I was healed. And within a short time every symptom did disappear, and I felt stronger and more grounded in my understanding of Christian Science than I had before.

I learned to be really alert and not to allow into my thinking anything that suggested I could ever, in any way, be separated from God. And by understanding this fact one day when I gashed my finger, I had a quick healing of the injury; the flesh closed immediately, and I felt close to God.

How can I ever thank God enough for loving us so completely?

Joanne E. Bennett
Pasadena, California