At a time when my world appeared to collapse and I seemed buried in mortal debris, these words of Psalm 139 came to me (vv. 7, 8): "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." To all evidences I was going through hell, but God was right there, upholding and leading me out of darkness into the light of His heavenly harmony.

After the birth of our first child, my wife became critically ill. I was a young foot doctor (podiatrist) at the time, just starting in practice. The physical symptoms were alarming, and they worsened despite thorough medical attention, which culminated in major surgery. Finally, when all medical approaches had been exhausted, the doctors said my wife's condition was terminal.

It was at this point that a kind neighbor brought my wife a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. My wife read the book, drinking in the living water of truth as a thirsty desert soaks up the rain. I saw what I thought was a miracle take place before my eyes. She was healed instantaneously. Soon after, she joined The Mother Church, took Christian Science class instruction, and eventually became a Christian Science practitioner.

My spiritual growth, however, was not as rapid. I came from an Orthodox Judaic background, in addition to which I had had years of professional medical school indoctrination. But after seeing what God had done for my wife, I reached out to Him for answers the medical profession did not have.

Looking for inspiration and a new direction, I found this statement from our textbook, Science and Health, to be a great help (p. 312): "How true it is that whatever is learned through material sense must be lost because such so-called knowledge is reversed by the spiritual facts of being in Science."

It became apparent to me that these beliefs stemming from false education had to vanish; that it was only the substance of Soul, or Spirit, which was my real being. I had to "let this mind be in [me], which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5). With these truths as a foundation, plus the love of my wife and my gratitude for her healing, I started regularly to study Christian Science and attend services at a branch church.

The logic and power of these Soul-filled truths gradually began to take hold, spiritualizing my thinking and purifying my life. I joined The Mother Church and had class instruction in Science. This enabled me to be more of a support to my wife in her work as Christian Science practitioner. I accompanied her to all types of areas, at all hours of the night. Wherever and whenever there was a need for help, in God's service, she was there.

Christ Jesus said (Matt. 10:8): "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." This was what my wife dedicated her life to—freely she had received, so freely she gave, full and running over. I was privileged to bear witness to many healings wrought by God and His Christ. The Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy took on deeper and deeper meaning for me. They became a rock to lean upon and proved to be my very salvation in an hour of need.

I was still trying to ride two horses at the same time, however. I was still in a profession that emphasized physicality or matter, while at the same time I was attempting to emphasize God, Spirit. The Bible says (Matt. 6:24): "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Despite my growth in Science, I was still clinging to many earthbound fetters. In order to take my stand, I had to know, for myself, what Mrs. Eddy states in Science and Health (p. 346): "Material beliefs must be expelled to make room for spiritual understanding." This cleansing process of ejecting the double standards from my consciousness led to quite an upheaval in my life and I developed severe hypertension, followed by a complete nervous breakdown.

The Christian Science practitioner I called recommended I study this statement in Science and Health (p. 451): "Christian Scientists must live under the constant pressure of the apostolic command to come out from the material world and be separate. They must renounce aggression, oppression and the pride of power. Christianity, with the crown of Love upon her brow, must be their queen of life."

I knew that God was my Life and Soul, and that because all power belongs to Him, there could be no room for pride in a mortal sense of power. I saw that I could let go of every false god—whether it be a doctorate or an office in which to arrogantly give orders. I felt I could let God work His purpose out in my life. With this, I was freed of human outlining, loosed of material encumbrances.

During this period of growth, a buyer came forth (it would seem from out of nowhere), and my podiatry practice was sold. I continued to prayerfully meet each challenge and the symptoms of a nervous breakdown and hypertension faded away. Science and Health states (p. 114): "Christian Science explains all cause and effect as mental, not physical. It lifts the veil of mystery from Soul and body. It shows the scientific relation of man to God, disentangles the interlaced ambiguities of being, and sets free the imprisoned thought." My thought was set free; imprisoned feelings, pressure, and physical defects were eliminated.

Today I rejoice in the words of Hymn No. 64 from our Christian Science Hymnal: "The dawn of all things real is breaking o'er me,/My heart is singing: I have found the way." What a joy it is to have our way eternally brightened by the light of the Christ.

DR. JOSEPH YELLIS
Santa Barbara, California