In The Healing Light, Ms. Agnes Sanford outlines her experiences with the healing power of God.

Ms. Sanford compares the power of God to the power of electricity -- "the whole universe is full of it, but only the amount of it that flows through...will work." In her down-to-earth, gentle style, Ms. Agnes Sanford explains how the love of God can become manifest in the most diverse manner. The Healing Light, is often considered a classic in its field and has sold over half a million copies since its original 1947 publication.

INTRODUCTION

"The scientific attitude is the attitude of perfect open-mindedness," writes Agnes Sanford. "It consists in an un­shakable faith in the laws of nature combined with perfect humility toward those laws and a patient determination to learn them at whatever cost. Through this humility scientists have learned how to conform to the laws of nature and by so doing have achieved results. Through the same meekness those who seek God can produce results by learning to con­form to His laws of faith and love.

"The first step in seeking to produce results by any power is to contact that power. . . .

"The second step is to turn it on. . . .

"The third step is to believe that this power is coming into use and to accept it by faith. No matter how much we ask for something it becomes ours only as we accept it and give thanks for it."

These three steps are made so clear in this book that a child can understand them. But something besides under­standing is required if one desires real healing and that "something besides" is what this book proceeds to give.

That "something besides" which Agnes Sanford possesses more than anyone I have met is hard to catch and put into words; it is something as evanescent and indefinable as the air we breathe. For want of a better word I shall call it the "climate" necessary for healing.

In Northern Siberia there is a Russian port, used for whal­ing vessels in the summer season. But in winter with the temperatures ranging from fifty to ninety degrees below zero, no vessels have ever been known to enter. The port is there, the wharves are there, all the avenues for ships to come and go are there. But no vessels ever come. It would be silly to ask why because everyone knows why they don't come in. It is because of the wrong kind of climate.

Anyone who steps into the presence of Agnes steps into the right kind of climate for healing. When I looked over the manuscript of this book I had only a secondary interest in seeing whether she had the "technique" of healing because I knew she had that. I knew that thousands of people who have never healed anyone in their lives also have the tech­nique. My primary interest was in seeing whether this book (prepared for a world where the spiritual temperature is so far below zero) could furnish a "climate" that would make healing a living reality. To my great joy I found that this is exactly what it does do. I therefore put it on my MUST list for all who wish to go "all out" in their seeking for the heal­ing power of God.

Agnes Sanford was born in China as the daughter of a Presbyterian missionary, she has lived for years in New Jersey as the wife of an Episcopalian rector, and she has studied and tried every form of healing that has ever been known. Never have I met one who combined the meta­physical and the sacramental approach as she does. I have never met anyone more Christ-centered nor anyone more church-centered and yet more utterly unconcerned about the creed or lack of creed of those that she administers to.

"I explained to the suffering soldier boy that there was a healing energy in him that the doctors called 'nature,' that this same healing life was in the world outside of him too, and that he could receive more of it by asking for it.

" 'Who'll I ask?' Sammy wondered.

" 'Ask God. Because He is the one who made nature and He's in nature and He is nature.'

" 'But I don't know anything about God.'" 'You know there's something outside of yourself, don't you? After all, you didn't make this world. There's some kind of life outside of you.'

" 'Oh, sure. When you're scared enough you feel like there must be something.'

" 'Well then, ask that Something to come into you. Just say "Whoever you are or whatever you are, come into me now and help nature in my body to mend this bone." ' "

This book shows how this boy and scores of others like him were healed through simple exposure to the climate of faith and love. If to this faith and love there is added the warm sunshine of enthusiasm, humor and good cheer there is nothing more to be asked. When you finish reading this book you will agree with me that this is far more than a book on healing. It is a guide to redemptive, creative living.

GLENN CLARK

St. Paul, Minnesota.