It is a glorious privilege to testify to the healing power...

Bessie May Teorey

It is a glorious privilege to testify to the healing power of Christian Science, and I humbly offer this testimony with the hope that it will encourage those who may be laboring with a prolonged physical problem.

For four years I was in bondage to what materia medica would probably call a fibroid tumor, which caused me much discomfort. The growth grew larger as time went on, and although I went to several practitioners for treatment, the condition grew worse. During the last six months, I became very weak physically, and there were times when I was unable to attend to my household duties.

One day, when things seemed very dark and discouraging, a member of my family, not a student of Christian Science, became alarmed at my condition and suggested that I go to a physician for an examination. In my extremity I cried out to God, "Why hast thou forsaken me?" I had been a faithful student of Christian Science for many years, and I could not understand why this problem had not been solved. But I realized that if I was ever to prove God's presence and power, I must do it now! I was led to ask a friend, who is a consecrated practitioner, for help. When I told her of my condition and how very hopeless it seemed, her first words were, "Well, my dear, are you looking for ease in matter, for something to be removed, or are you seeking to love God with your whole heart, and praying for the Mind of Christ?" She told me that all that needed to be removed or dissolved was "the adamant of error,—self-will, self-justification, and self-love" (Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, p. 242), which she reminded me could be done only with "the universal solvent of Love" (ibid.). This Love, she explained, is divine Principle.

She also turned my thought to our Leader's statement (ibid.,p. 9), "Dost thou 'love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thou soul, and with all thy mind'?" It was explained that as this love for God becomes supreme in our affections it displaces or removes properly whatever is unlovely or unlike the Christ, first mentally, then physically.

For several weeks I devoted every spare moment to prayerful study of the Bible and our Leader's writings to gain a better understanding of God as Principle, and of man's perfect, harmonious relation to Him. I began to experience more hope, and grew in courage and strength, so that I was able to say to myself, "Even if there does seem to be a tumor attached to me, all I care about now is knowing and loving God more." This state of consciousness caused the fear of the growth to disappear, and then came the joyous realization that if God is all Life, substance, and intelligence, surely matter could not make me believe that it was a living, intelligent, growing entity. A few days after this clear view of God's allness, I saw the result of the correct thinking. The tumor passed from me painlessly and with no aftereffects. The sense of God's presence and power not only flooded my consciousness, but seemed to fill the entire room, and I knew that I had touched the hem of Christ's robe. I knew that I had found the recipe for all healing, the spiritualization of thought. This healing took place over two and a half years ago and has been permanent.

Through this experience, I learned that we have to earn our understanding of God; and that it is through standing firmly in these testing times that we become more valuable workers in the great Cause of Christian Science. My sincere prayer is that I may express more of the Christ-consciousness in daily living so that I shall be a worthy member of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

Of course I rejoiced in the newly found physical freedom, but the knowledge of God's allness and His great power, which has continued to unfold in countless ways, has brought me a sense of joy that is far greater than physical freedom could ever bring.

Since becoming a student of Christian Science in 1926, I have had many blessings and healings. I shall always be grateful to the faithful practitioners who have helped me during these past years, and for the love and courage of the one who helped me to stand during this last problem. I wish to express my gratitude for the Christian Science periodicals, which were so helpful during this experience, and for the Reading Room, which provided me a refuge for quiet study, and whose healing atmosphere was indeed an inspiration. I feel that I now have a deeper appreciation of all of the activities of our movement. I am deeply grateful to have had class instruction.

(Mrs.) Bessie May Teorey, Los Angeles, California.

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