World War II and the postwar period in Germany had a strong influence on me. I had become matter-oriented and morally weak. Christian Science brought me regeneration through an enlightened concept of God and man as divine Principle and its idea. How bright everything became as I studied the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy.

As a boy, I sprained my ankle severely while participating in sports. I was laid up under medical treatment for a long time before I was able to walk normally again. From then on this injury would recur intermittently.

One day, after I found Christian Science, I was working in a vineyard when I stepped into a hole. I felt intense pain in my ankle—the one with the recurring trouble. I fell to the ground and was unable to get up. The pain made it impossible for me to think very clearly, but there was one thing I was sure of—my unshakable trust in Christian Science. I tried to follow Mrs. Eddy's directive (Science and Health, p. 495): "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious—as Life eternally is—can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not."

This brought me peace, and after a few minutes I was able to get up and go to a bench to sit down. The pain had abated, but I was near fainting. It was clear to me that I could not give in to this suggestion for even a second. Out loud I voiced my invulnerability as a spiritual idea governed by God's law. After about fifteen minutes I was able to resume my work with great joy and gratitude for the immediate power of prayer. The ankle healed quickly and has remained strong and supple.

When my son was eight years old, he suffered burns on his thigh from the hot exhaust pipe of a motorcycle. I put the boy to bed and, in order to overcome the pain, turned his thought entirely to God. As I sat at his bedside I turned my own thoughts to God and His idea, man. Man, as the perfect likeness of God, is spiritual and is governed by this law of perfection, which maintains his being. I was confident that the child's true spiritual selfhood had never been touched by so-called laws of matter. I worked quietly for about ten minutes with the ideas that came to me from divine Mind, and the child slept peacefully. When he woke about an hour later, he called me over to him and patting his thigh said, "Look, Dad, there's no burn there anymore!" To our great joy the blisters were gone.

This healing, along with other healings of burns in our family, reminds me of the protection enjoyed by the three men who were thrown into the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:27): "And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them." Because their faith in God was unshakable and they worshiped Him alone, they were protected when persecution tried to harm them.

When we honestly apply the rules of Christian Science, God supplies us with the ideas that lift consciousness to a higher spiritual understanding. He enables us to demonstrate His healing power.

KARL TRUM
Bischoffingen, Federal Republic of Germany