I can attest to the healing efficacy of the statement, "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 261). Adherence to this admonition gave me needed strength on a difficult hike. The statement was an inspiration to me again when I was faced with a frightening physical symptom.

A few years ago I was hiking in very mountainous country with my husband and teen-age daughter. Both of them are very strong hikers. We were making our way across country with no trail, following a creek in a deep, narrow canyon. Since there were no creek banks, we waded down the creek, climbing over large logs and boulders, and sliding down into pools of water. I soon felt I was not strong enough to keep up; and I had doubts about my ability to get back up the creek, pulling myself up and over the logs and boulders, and climbing out of the canyon to return to our car.

I thought, "This seems like an endurance contest." The word "endurance" reminded me of the above quotation. So I contemplated the qualities of lightness, strength, and vigor. I related strength and vitality to God, Mind, and disciplined myself to think of absolutely nothing else all day, as I kept going with the others. I declared those qualities to be part of my being, since man is the expression of the qualities of God. I completed the outing without holding up the others and didn't experience stiffness or soreness afterward. This was proof to me of the effectiveness of holding "thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true."

Some time later, I was inspired by this proof as I worked out another problem, with the resolve to be as steadfast as I had been on that hike. I was alarmed one day to find a lump in one breast. It increased in size and became painful, so that it was uncomfortable to use one arm. Despite my prayers, the situation worsened, so I asked a Christian Science practitioner for treatment. She gently reassured me that even if the nature of an illness seems especially aggressive, it is really a false mental concept. As I accepted this fact, I became calm, because I knew that the solution was in my own thought, not something beyond my control. Any lingering doubt about the power of Christian Science to heal me vanished, and I looked upon this situation as an adventure in learning more of God.

I found as I stopped examining the physical evidence, and instead became more conscious of my spiritual nature and being, I not only was not tempted to look at the physical but I did not think of it. I knew it would drop from my experience. I discussed the problem with no one, so as not to rouse concern in another's thought. The only other person who knew about this was my husband. I appreciate his understanding of my desire to be healed in Christian Science, since he is not a Christian Scientist.

I studied "the scientific statement of being" found in Science and Health. The last lines read (p. 468): "Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." I reminded myself many times each day that "I am not material, I am spiritual." After about three months, I glimpsed the truth of that statement, and I knew I was well, even though the physical condition was unchanged. I was so inspired that for days I felt buoyed up and very joyous. I telephoned the practitioner and told her I was healed! We rejoiced together and agreed to keep praying together until all evidence vanished, which it did in another month.

To know that Christian Science is true, because it is provable, is the most wonderful thing in the world to me. Christian Science makes it possible for us to fulfill the promise Christ Jesus made (John 14:12), "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."

(Mrs.) Lucielle V.Brownell
Grants Pass, Oregon