Two years ago two sisters and myself lived in British Guiana, South America. One of my sisters met with a great disappointment that seemed to deeply affect us all, as we dearly loved one another. My sisters decided to go to Canada and from there they went to Boston where they soon became loyal Scientists.
I was left in British Guiana and led a reckless life. I argued this way: I have been trying all my life to do my duty, yet God allows those I love to suffer. I don't care what happens now, I intend having a good time and will live for the day and the pleasures of the day.
This kind of life could not last. The pleasure was unreal. There can be no peace when life is revolving round self. To those who are not willing to learn, life is almost intolerably hard. They bear the brunt of the terrible onslaught of events as they sometimes come rolling in like waves of the sea, but they are not lifted by them, and when the flood is passed they are stripped of their possessions. So it was with me. In my unrest I was led to Boston for my vacation to see my sisters, and there I was taken to the Mother Church, where I found the Truth.
I shall never forget a party of eight Scientists who took me along with them into the woods at Roslindale and read the lesson. It was Sunday. The quiet of the woods and the ever-presence of God came home to me, and I realized as I never did before that purity, sincerity, obedience, and self-surrender are the steps that lead to the spiritual temple.
I was cured of the liquor and tobacco habits, and since I have come back to British Guiana I find Christian Science such a help in business that I advise all business men to give it a trial and they will wonder what has become of all their cares and worries.
I have the Christian Science literature and am trying to plant the grain of mustard seed. I thank many loyal Scientists in Boston for their kind and helpful thought. I have never met any religious body which keeps the commandment of "Love one another" so completely as the Scientists. I look forward eagerly to receiving the Sentinel and Journal. I am daily overcoming anger, weariness, and discontent.
This passage in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," helps me: "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." More than half the unhappiness in the world comes from a perverse unwillingness to look on the bright side, so long as a dark side can be found. I find our people out here are disposed to do this. We are always on the verge of ruin, if it is not drought it is too much rain, but since coming into Science I leave these things in the "Great hand of God." He doeth all things well and "If the life of Christ is not your pattern, the death of Christ will never be your pardon."
British Guiana, S. A.
