Christian Science has indeed delivered me from a deep and horrible pit caused through harboring wrong thoughts. When a friend lent me the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, over four years ago, I was suffering from extreme depression and fits of blackness and fear. I used to feel lost and alone, and there seemed nothing substantial to cling to. My mental anguish was so great at times that I was glad to go to sleep and lose it all in oblivion. This wrong condition was brought on through the belief that the work I was doing was monotonous and mechanical, and called for none of the intelligence I believed I possessed. There seemed to be no way of escape, and the thought of such a dreary life stretching away before me seemed more than I could bear. In my trouble I cried to God, not knowing who or where He was; and when the time seemed blackest of all and I felt it to be impossible to go on any longer, the Christian Science textbook was put into my hands, although I had not told my friend or anyone of my trouble, for I believed that no one could permanently help me.
From the first, I knew that in this book was something that would help me, although mine was a very gradual healing. First and foremost the belief of material work and material living had to be dispelled to make room for the understanding of man doing his spiritual work as God's child. Belief of human intellect, unloving thoughts of associates, and pride also had to go. I remember a struggle I had one day with pride. I had been set to do a task that seemed very much beneath me, and in my struggle I thought, If pride is a real quality of man it must be infinite; and what would the world be like if all expressed pride? And then I felt grateful that pride is cast out by the truth—and that enemy was vanquished! Now I often do that same task and quite love it.
As my thinking improved through the study of the textbook, the fits of depression and fear left me. I felt as if I could smile again, and I knew that I was being led to the true God. To-day I know that material work has no power over man, the spiritual child of God, and I have been absolutely lifted above all belief of monotony; and, meditating on the truths taught in Christian Science, I can truly say I enjoy my work. Life seems so full and varied to me now, and the belief that I ever passed through such an unhappy time is fading away, so that it is with difficulty that I recall it.
