'My breath returned to me'

Geoffrey D. Hill

One day earlier this year I awoke unable to catch my breath. I got out of bed, assuming that walking around would do the trick, but the condition became worse. I lay back down and tried to take big gulps of air, but it felt as though something was weighing down on my lungs. I grew more and more fearful, thinking, “This is the end—I’m drowning on dry land.”

Because it was an emergency, my wife called 911. She isn’t a Christian Scientist, and although she fully supports my reliance on prayer for healing, this was a natural response to the situation. The buzzer in our apartment doesn’t work, so she told the emergency team they would have to call her and she would come down from the third floor to let them in.

Very soon, I heard in the distance the siren of the emergency team. I got back out of bed and sat down at the kitchen table. I folded my hands, but instead of thinking, “This is it,” I turned to God with all my heart and began silently praying the Lord’s Prayer, along with its spiritual interpretation by Mary Baker Eddy (see Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. 16–17).

Each verse brought a fresh inspiration about my present situation, and a very definite understanding that God was there protecting me. My prayer went like this: “Our Father which art in heaven, / Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious”—God is all harmony; there is no room for fear.

At that point my wife’s phone rang, and she left the apartment to let the emergency team in. I continued praying: “Hallowed be Thy name. / Adorable One”—I honor only You, Lord.

The next verse really hit me: “Thy kingdom come. / Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present”—Lord, You have never, ever left my side, even for one moment.

It was in that moment that my breath returned to me. The weight on my lungs lifted. I continued silently praying the Lord’s Prayer, just feeling God’s love holding me tight. My wife returned, followed by three emergency responders, to see me still sitting at the table, breathing completely normally.

They did a routine check and were amazed to see that my breathing was natural and stable. One of the men expressed surprise at how calm I was, as if nothing had ever happened. I silently reminded myself that since I had never left God’s care, in His kingdom nothing had truly happened.

I am so grateful for everything I have learned and continue to learn in Christian Science, and I am grateful every minute to walk with my Father-Mother, God.

Geoffrey D. Hill
Los Angeles, California, US

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Emergency responders, armed with prayer

June 9, 2014

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit