Many years ago when I was new as a Christian Scientist, and a new draftee in the United States Army, I found myself in need of healing. 

I had found success in basic training and had been quickly promoted to a leadership position in our platoon. In my next training assignment, I found myself continuing to find success, but I began to look down a bit on some of the training staff. These men did not have the polish I had admired in our initial group of NCOs and officers, and I felt they were doing a poor job with the task they were assigned. 

In addition to these negative feelings, I was upset that we were not given clothes fully adequate to the brutal winter conditions. But instead of praying about the situation, I started to become careless in my thinking and behavior; I just wanted to get the training over with. I even missed bed check one night and had my weekend pass revoked and my rank reduced. 

One day, while marching the platoon to a training assignment, I suddenly collapsed and was immediately taken to the Army base hospital for evaluation. This was a Friday afternoon. I was told that I had pneumonia and was shown an X-ray that seemed to indicate my lungs were filled with fluid. I was told I would need to begin treatment immediately.

The temptation was strong just to go along with the medical approach. After all, it was bitterly cold outside and I was warm, dry, and had just eaten the best meal since I’d arrived on the base. But even as a relatively new Christian Scientist, I knew I needed to take a stand against the suggestion that I could be sick or exhibit any condition that was not of an entirely good God. I’d come into Christian Science because of a healing I’d experienced, and I knew I could trust it in this situation. 

I told the doctor I was a Christian Scientist and wished to rely exclusively on Christian Science to restore my health. He thoughtfully responded and accepted my decision, but told me that the doctor who would be assigned to my case on Monday might require a medical approach if my condition did not improve over the weekend.

That evening, I had an unexpected visitor. A fellow trainee with whom I had established a strong friendship in basic training, and who had witnessed my reliance on Christian Science, brought me my Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I was almost overcome with gratitude for his thoughtfulness. 

These two books helped me turn my thought to the power of God, freeing me from the belief and evidence of sickness. I didn’t get well that night, but I was feeling much more peaceful.

The next day I had another unexpected visitor. A Christian Science Representative in the Armed Services was checking to see whether any Christian Scientists were on base, and he’d found my name listed. Upon further checking, he learned that I was in the hospital, so he thought he’d pay a visit. One would think I’d be soaring at this loving gesture, but I found myself very displeased with this man’s informal and unimpressive appearance. 

One of the things I had noticed before becoming interested in Christian Science was how cultured and successful the Christian Scientists were in my suburban town. The Christian Science practitioner and lecturer who had been a great support to me after I had embraced Christian Science was always perfectly dressed, and came from a significant academic background. The casual appearance of the man checking in on me was not in accord with how I felt a representative of the Church of Christ, Scientist, should look.

Again, I had a decision to make. Should I give the case to him or try to get in touch with a practitioner I knew I could rely on? As I pondered what to do, I realized that Christ Jesus didn’t look like a Pharisee or scribe, but more like a simple carpenter. How he looked and his educational pedigree had nothing to do with his effectiveness as a healer. All that mattered was his love for God and man.

I decided to gratefully embrace this dear man’s love and devotion, and I humbly asked him to pray for me. He kindly agreed, shared some gentle truths, said he would pray for me, and departed. What also seemed to depart was my sense of self-importance and hard-heartedness. Gratitude replaced criticism, and enthusiasm for my training pushed aside the attitude of wanting to just get through. I knew I was healed, and I rejoiced in it, even though the physical picture hadn’t yet caught up.

Monday arrived, and the new doctor put me through a battery of tests, including a new X-ray. He was clearly puzzled, because I was completely free of any sign of sickness. The X-ray showed no trace of pneumonia. No medication had been administered. I had been healed through Christian Science, and we both knew it. He released me back to my unit, where I served with gratitude, respect, and success. 

I graduated with the top of my class and was accepted into Officer Candidate School in the specialty that I had learned during this phase of my training. I had many more healings while in the Army, but none was more important than the humility gained by understanding that because God doesn’t judge according to appearance, neither should I.

Jack Train 
Boston, Massachusetts, US