My gratitude is immeasurable for the neighbor who generously offered Christian Science to our family. My sister and I were then enrolled in the Christian Science Sunday School, which we attended during our teen-age years. Later, the spiritual foundation established in those classes proved to be invaluable in my life.

After marriage, I drifted from the teachings of this Science. However, when our daughter was about four, I enrolled her in the Christian Science Sunday School and began to attend the branch church services sporadically. I still had not made a firm commitment to rely on Christian Science for healing.

Then, confronted with an alarming physical condition, I declined the suggestion to seek medical attention and instead sought help from a Christian Science practitioner. There was immediate relief from the symptoms, but complete recovery called for my diligent prayer and study. Although I was up and around in two weeks, there was a lot of fear to overcome.

It was during this wilderness experience that the truths I had been taught in the Christian Science Sunday School began to blossom in my consciousness. I had memorized many Bible verses and passages from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, and these sustained me during challenging times. Especially helpful were two verses from Proverbs (3:5, 6): "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

In Science and Health the whole chapter entitled "Prayer" became a staff on which to lean. My troubled thought was pacified when I turned wholeheartedly to God and learned to trust Him, despite the aggressive appearance of disorder. I was gaining an understanding of the spiritual poise that I naturally reflected as God's idea.

Christ Jesus said (Matt. 7:3, 5): "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ... Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." This parable taught me to stop trying to change other people, and to look within and correct my own concept of others, to see them as God truly made them, in His own likeness.

I also pondered the account of the Master's visit to the home of Martha, who "was cumbered about much serving" (Luke 10:40). I began to put many things into their proper spiritual perspective, no longer dwelling on material personality but putting God first in every aspect of my life.

I am very grateful for the practitioners who helped me at various times during this trial. The physical problem, although never diagnosed, seemed to be that of a nervous breakdown. It was thoroughly healed as I began to really demonstrate Christian Science in all of my activities. And many other healings have followed.

More recently, my hearing suddenly became impaired in one ear. I saw that I needed to understand the spiritual definition of "ears" given in the Glossary of Science and Health. It begins (p. 585): "Ears. Not organs of the so-called corporeal senses, but spiritual understanding."

Further research into Mrs. Eddy's writings, as well as study of appropriate Bible verses, made me realize that I could hear and accept only what God was telling me about His spiritual creation, the only creation that exists. I was certain that the truth I was learning would resolve all questions and dispel all fears concerning the lie that creation is material.

Two references from Science and Health were very helpful and contributed to the healing: "The 'divine ear' is not an auditory nerve. It is the all-hearing and all-knowing Mind, to whom each need of man is always known and by whom it will be supplied" (p. 7). And from page 486: "Sight, hearing, all the spiritual senses of man, are eternal. They cannot be lost. Their reality and immortality are in Spirit and understanding, not in matter,—hence their permanence."

I knew that I must claim for myself the permanence of the spiritual faculty called hearing, and I did this step by step. Within two weeks all the distressing symptoms disappeared, my hearing became normal, and it has remained so.

I am deeply grateful that Mrs. Eddy shared this healing Science with all mankind. Many blessings have come to me as a result of Christian Science class instruction and service in a branch church.

ADELE MULLENBACH
Corona Del Mar, California