As I reread in Matthew (5:15), "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house," I decided it was time to share a bit of my experience in Christian Science. A healing, which has been outstanding to me, occurred several years ago but seems as much an occasion for gratitude today as when it happened.

I had a waterfront lot which was grown over with noxious weeds, so I took my garden tractor, which had a sickle-bar cutter, to take care of the situation. The grass and weeds were very heavy, and I found it necessary to stop frequently to remove the accumulation of weeds and grass from in front of the tractor. On one occasion, when I had stopped, I started around the tractor and stepped in a hole, which threw me off balance and toward the hot motor. I automatically reached out for something to balance myself and happened to grab the exhaust pipe, which of course was the hottest part of the motor.

The flesh was instantly burned down my hand to the tips of the fingers. My first thoughts were that I would not be able to finish cutting the weeds or to load the tractor on the trailer and take it home, since I would have to keep the hand covered somehow and oiled to keep it from getting stiff. Then like a flash the angel message came (Heb. 4:12): "The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." I immediately declared that if this is true then the Word of God is more powerful than any belief of a physical burn and can pierce deeper than this burn had, completely remove every sense of pain, and heal this condition.

I completely immersed my thought in this powerful statement and other affirmations of the truth of my spiritual being in God, and in a few moments I took hold of the handles of the tractor and finished mowing the lot. Within one half hour all sensation of pain had completely ceased. I took the tractor home and proceeded with all other activities which needed attention. The hand was never medicated or bandaged in any way, and within a week only a small spot in the center of the hand was unhealed. Within another few days it was completely healed, there was not a scar or blemish left, and the fingers were just as free as ever.

This was a most convincing proof to me of the power of the Word, and I understood as never before what Genesis means where it records that God said (1:28), "Have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." I have never ceased to be grateful for this physical healing, but it fades into its proper place as I realize the wonderful mental and spiritual enlightenment it brought me. Many other healings over the years have been continuing proof of the ever-presence of divine Love, which meets all human needs.

I am very grateful for membership in The Mother Church and for class instruction. I am grateful for the privilege of serving in a branch church in many capacities. The infinite wisdom exhibited by Mrs. Eddy in the completeness of provision for our perpetual progress seems a miracle to me.

Paul N. Stedman
Clearwater, Florida

I wish to express gratitude for all the blessings that have come into my life through the study of Christian Science. As a child I had been brought up in a Protestant faith. I met and married a young Christian Scientist and took up the study of this religion.

During the years we have had many proofs that Christian Science heals. Our two children have had beautiful healings of so-called children's diseases.

I would like to give an account of a healing I had some time ago. One Sunday afternoon when I was reading, I felt a very sharp pain in my right eye. For a few moments everything was blurred and the pain was intense. I sat still and knew that I was made in the image and likeness of God, spiritual and perfect in every way, and that nothing had changed. I also knew that matter has no power to make me believe that anything can be inharmonious in God's spiritual, perfect creation. We read in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (p. 453), "A Christian Scientist's medicine is Mind, the divine Truth that makes man free." After a while I was able to see quite freely, and the pain had lessened. However, in the morning, when I started to read the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, the letters became blurred, so instead of reading, I listened to one of the records we have of an article from the Christian Science periodicals, entitled "Indestructible Faculties of Spirit." One idea I seemed to get a great deal of help from was that all man's faculties are spiritual because they come from Mind, Spirit, so they are forever perfect in function. I was able to carry on with my work in the office that day, and I just clung to the above thought. The next morning I was entirely free and have remained so ever since.

I am very grateful for the whole Christian Science movement, for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church, and to be able to serve in this branch church. Class instruction and the yearly association meeting are a constant source of joy and increased spiritual understanding.

(Mrs.) Jessie Scott
Calgary, Alberta, Canada