Christian Science has given my life a spiritual foundation. This teaching proved to be invaluable to me while I was serving in the military, and it continues to be a wonderful benefit to me in college. I would like to share a healing I had during my military experience.

During a very rigorous basic training course, I had felt very much sustained by God. I was able to demonstrate dominion both physically and mentally as a result of prayer and trust in His protective care. In my class I even earned an honor award.

Later in the course of my military duty, I was exposed to poisonous gas. My lungs were considered severely damaged, and breathing became difficult and painful. In my distress I phoned my mother, who is a Christian Science practitioner. I told her I was to be released to return home for a stay, and I asked her to pray for me. The military doctors at my base sent me home with a large supply of medicine, which they said would temporarily relieve the pain in breathing. I did not take the medication because I was putting my trust solely in God for healing.

The doctors had offered little hope for my recovery. I realized I had to understand more fully my innate spiritual perfection as the image of God. Within three days after my return home, as a result of prayer my lungs were restored and my healing was complete. I felt so free after this healing that I took a brisk walk around a nearby college campus and just enjoyed breathing the fresh air.

With confident expectation of God's continued help, I returned to my quarters at the base. The military doctors spent a good part of a day giving me a thorough physical examination. I was found to be in excellent health, with no trace of damage to my lungs, throat, or nasal passages. I was so grateful to have proved that Christian Science heals quickly and fully.

My final discharge from the military was worked out harmoniously. I agreed to fulfill a couple of months at my duty station. I would then be free to return to college and complete my formal education in undergraduate school.

During the two months before my final release from the service, I realized the need to adhere more strictly to the standards of Christian Science. In trying to be active in the social scene in the military, I had always gone with my colleagues to the officers' club and bar for drinks, even though I was not really interested in drinking. After my healing I wanted to live the life of a Christian Scientist. The desire to avoid going into a barroom atmosphere again became foremost in my thinking. I prayed and worked with truths in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. And I gained freedom from the desire to smoke and drink socially. I am happy to have found social acceptance with people who genuinely respect my views as a nondrinker and nonsmoker.

Working with this passage in Science and Health has meant a great deal to me (p. 21): "If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy." I am endeavoring to live the truths of this statement in daily life. I have gained a higher sense of joy, freedom, and accomplishment through the practice of Christian Science.

Kali Ann Kiefer
Oak Park, Illinois