I was asked to take over as manager of a large construction company owned by a family member. The company had severe management problems and had been losing a lot of money. I accepted the job, even though things looked hopeless. The company had accumulated a huge debt, and our working capital was totally depleted.

Wholeheartedly, I turned to God for direction and support, and I asked a Christian Science practitioner to pray for me daily. I found this very helpful: "Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way" (Science and Health, p. 454). I studied these statements carefully and referred to them frequently in an effort to clarify my motives, to love everyone involved, and to listen for God's guidance. Doing this was my way of praying specifically for healing.

The results were amazing. Previously, I had been feeling that I was the "captain of the ship," responsible for steering the course of our business. Now, I felt more like a passenger, with a higher hand at the helm.

Wonderful things began to happen. All the problems began to be solved. The bonding company and banks agreed to lend us additional money to pay our suppliers and allow us some working capital. A record number of new contracts came in. This new work was very profitable, and we were able to accelerate our debt repayment.

At the height of all of this activity and success, I began to feel that I should look for a buyer for the business. Negotiating a sale was slow and, at times, difficult. At each new step I turned to these words of St. Paul: "For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality" (II Cor. 8:13-14). The sale was completed successfully, all debts were paid, and the stockholders received an excellent return on their investment.

The intuition I had to sell the business when we did was significant. At the time of the sale, the prime interest rate was 12 percent; however, within six months it had risen to over 21 percent. If the company had not been sold when it was, we would have had such large interest payments, coupled with a decreased volume of work, that we would have had to liquidate, and all our employees would have lost their jobs. The new owner was able to begin operations debt free, and this business has continued to be successful to this day.

More recently, I was kicked in the arm by a horse. I was alone, unable to use my arm, and in extreme pain. I started to lose consciousness, but was able to get to a telephone and call a practitioner to help me pray for healing.

The practitioner assured me that God was my Mind and that I could not lose consciousness of God. That idea brought me a vivid realization that I was one with God, and that I could not possibly lose my awareness of that oneness. Soon the pain was gone. I went to work that afternoon and used my arm with complete freedom. There were no aftereffects.

For these and many other spiritual healings, I am humbly grateful.

John A. Westman, Jr.
Corrales, New Mexico