"…affirmation of what happens in Christian Science"

It was certainly encouraging to read all those accounts…nearly stepping into their lives and watching (by reading) the wonderful resolutions and victories come about.  Encouragement is probably the book’s principal influence on my view of Christian Science healing. It’s also cause for gratitude to see the truth applied and work for good to those who’ve gone before us.

The book may offer the broadest scope of human conditions/needs I’ve seen Christian Science address in a single volume. This breadth is also cause for gratitude. It helps one be encouraged about that breadth in terms of today’s needs.

There are many great healing stories; it’s hard to pick only two.

Enslaved to false appetites (tobacco, whiskey, gambling, narcotics etc.), soldier willing to at last live up to appropriate standards and takes up Science via a 48-hour read of the books. Next morning, he no longer desired cigarettes, whiskey, or narcotics. This was the beginning of a “regeneration,” and he became over some period of time a “new man” that included numerous blessings. Others noticed this change and 15 men (of various nationalities) began studying the Bible and Science and Health. This spurred the healing for one man of a 14-year cigarette habit; he also became a healer of sorts. (p 123-124)

I treasure stories of people who are meaningfully changed for the better – whatever form it may take. I also like this healing account for the attention it attracted and the expanding interest in Christian Science that resulted. A good lesson for today.

Salesman diagnosed with “quick-growing” cancer is encouraged by a friend to try Christian Science. He at first brushes this aside, but a meeting with this friend forces the gentleman to read a bit of the Preface to Miscellaneous Writings. This reading attracts him, and as he “read on and on the pages were positively illumined. … It gave me a feeling of hope and joy I cannot describe…” He spends all night reading, and the next morning he walks eight blocks (after being confined to bed for several weeks) to buy Science and Health and walks back home (to his wife’s amazement.) He initiates a dialogue with a practitioner, and he learns over time a new concept of God, Christ, and “continually grew stronger.” (pp 151-154)

Some weeks later, he makes it to church and also experiences healing (not necessarily at the service) of cancer, headaches, stomach trouble, and more. He changes out of a high-paying job (involved entertaining clients with liquor, tobacco, etc.) He has healings of grudges. One his biggest relationship challenges surprises him by offering to help set-up our subject character into a new business (wholesale candy biz which became a wholesale grocery biz with five branches.)

Notably, his change of life included becoming “a better husband, a better father, a better neighbor, a better citizen.” He hit the jackpot!  The attraction for me are stories where character is changed, which sounds significant in this story, and challenging relationships are resolved/healed also a meaningful event in this story.

I keep a list as part of an informal gratitude journal of inspiration and specific instances of enlightenment. The “list” is mixed with the inspiration and enlightenment. Steps of healing or instances of distinct healing progress are also noted (and a key part of my journal).

These stories can be a gratitude list that I can mentally carry around with me. They’re an affirmation of what happens in Christian Science.