These words from one of our hymns...

Joyce P. Calkin

Trust the Eternal when the shadows gather,
When joys of daylight seem so like a dream.

These words from one of our hymns (Hymnal, No. 359) often brought great comfort to me when passing through a wilderness experience. The experience seemed long and at times frightening, but because the healing was entirely due to Christian Science, I wish to tell of it for the sake of others who may be faced with an apparently hopeless condition.

I was attacked by what I believe was rheumatic fever, which affected my entire body until I was completely incapacitated. In particular a painful condition affected my head, making any movement impossible. For many weeks this condition did not yield to Christian Science treatment given by a faithful practitioner. My mental condition became one of utter despondency, but I was finally roused sufficiently to ask to be taken to one of our Christian Science Houses. The loving care and peace which I experienced there were wonderful, and within a short time the condition of my head was relieved, and I was able to read and study. Then, with the help of the same practitioner, I learned to overcome a sense of resentment which I had been holding, and the condition of the head was healed.

After I had been there for some time, it seemed necessary that I return home. To do this constituted a major problem because of wartime domestic difficulties, for I still could not stand without assistance, although except for my legs the rest of my body was now free. It was pointed out to me that in the story of the crossing of Jordan, as told in the third chapter of Joshua, it was not until the priests dipped their feet in Jordan that the waters parted. This taught me that no matter how impossible the material condition may appear, the way will open if we go forward expectant of good, and I was able to make the decision to return home. A Christian Science nurse lovingly and generously offered her services, not only as a nurse but in any other way she could help. Through the next stages of this experience I learned to discard pride and to love my fellow man instead of criticizing him.

Then came a further call to dip my feet in Jordan. The realization came to me that I should be attending to my family's needs myself, so I asked the faithful nurse to leave me. By this time I could move with the aid of a stick and by holding on to the furniture, but I was still suffering much pain and was fearful of ossification, because one knee had become rigid. However, with the strong support of the practitioner, I was able to take on the cooking and washing for the family and even some of the housework of a large house. This was a most wonderful experience to me, for I learned that "with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27). From then on my healing continued rapidly until I was able to undertake again all normal activities.

This healing took nearly two years to accomplish, but it taught me to discriminate between the real joy of Spirit and the unreal pains and pleasures of matter. It aroused me to a deep sense of appreciation of our literature. The two devoted and steadfast practitioners who helped me at different times, the Christian Science nurses, who expressed unselfed love, and the Christian Science Houses will always have my heartfelt gratitude. Finally I cannot omit to express gratitude for the solid foundation our children gain through Christian Science and the Sunday School. The unswerving faith of two small daughters, their quick awareness of and joy in the slightest improvement, and their silence over any manifestation of error did much to lighten my path.

All these blessings serve to emphasize my unbounded gratitude to our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy. My daily endeavor is to live in accordance with her statement in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 160): "To live so as to keep human consciousness in constant relation with the divine, the spiritual, and the eternal, is to individualize infinite power; and this is Christian Science."—(Mrs.) Joyce P. Calkin, Stanmore, Middlesex, England.

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