Two years ago I faced the induction...

Robert J. Binney

Two years ago I faced the induction board with dread. For seven years I had been suffering from an intestinal disorder which reduced my efficiency fully a third, for it prevented me from working for several hours each day. I was like the woman in the Bible who "had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." Even though my condition did not place me on the deferred list, I was unable to see how I could possibly stand up under Army life. My local board assured me that the Army doctors would "fix me up," but I remained skeptical, because I had been trying all kinds of doctors and treatments for years without success.

The first few weeks in the Army turned out as I had feared, with half the time spent on sick call trying out the various experiments of the particular doctor on duty. Finally I was sent to the hospital to have a complete X-ray analysis. A month later I was scheduled for release with no improvement apparent. I went to plead my case before the doctor in charge. After I had told him of my various medical experiences in civilian life, he said, "If you have tried all that, how can you expect us to help you?"

With great despondency I returned to active duty. Then, in the midst of this depression, as though in answer to prayer, I came across an old copy of the Christian Science Sentinel. I eagerly devoured its contents, and nowhere in it could I find that my case should be considered hopeless. In fact, as far as I could make out, one could always turn with assurance and expectation to Truth to meet one's needs.

Before we were shipped overseas I was able to have an uplifting visit with a Christian Science Wartime Minister and get additional literature as well as the Bible and Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. I literally lived with Science and Health during the voyage. As I pondered its statements I saw I must overcome resentment at the fancied injustice of not having been able to see my baby son born two weeks before I left. I started being grateful for all the things I had, rather than indulging in self-pity. However, with three weeks of the Pacific before me, my big problem was still hanging on with tenacity. But I refused to give up Christian Science, and knew that the only thing which had to be corrected was my thinking.

My main hurdle was in overcoming the belief that there was really something the matter with me.

One of Mrs. Eddy's statements particularly appealed to my reason. On page 5 of "Rudimental Divine Science" she says, "Destroy the five senses as organized matter, and you must either become non-existent, or exist in Mind only." And I proved that to my own satisfaction. Through practice I was able to sit quietly on the deck and temporarily obliterate every one of the false arguments from my consciousness. Then came the inspirational observation that it was no more difficult to correct a mathematical problem which was "away off" than one that was just a fraction incorrect. To these thoughts was added gratitude to God and to Mrs. Eddy for her gift to men of the ever-ready cup of the Word, from which they may drink the waters of Truth.

At the completion of the voyage, when we pulled into a port in Australia, I was completely normal, physically and mentally, ready to face any eventuality without the slightest fear. That was a year and a half ago, and I am grateful to say I still am ignorant of what "sick call" is like on this side of the Pacific.— (Corp.) Robert J. Binney, New York, New York.

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