About four years ago, before Christian Science was presented to me, there was extreme inharmony in certain of my family relationships. I was in bondage to tobacco, alcohol, and barbiturates, and I was often in despair. Although, humanly speaking, I had all that anyone could wish for, including a loving family and friends, a religion and a belief in God, life seemed to me to be an enigma without real meaning or satisfying purpose. Increasing depression and illness almost engulfed me. I had tried many material means and methods without avail. Temporary relief was followed by new onslaughts of despair or illness.
Then one day a friend asked me if I had ever thought of investigating Christian Science. I replied that I had not. She went on to say that it might meet my need. She knew a little about it, but advised me to consult a practitioner to have it rightly explained. So desperate was I that I telephoned a practitioner right away. I was invited to come and talk with her that same afternoon, and thus I took my first step on the road that led to freedom.
This meeting with the practitioner turned out to be the first of many during which this dear person gave me an insight into the true nature of God and of man's real selfhood as His loved child and reflection. The next day I went to a Christian Science Reading Room and obtained a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, for I was eager to find out for myself more about this wonderful religion. I felt that if there was an answer to my problems, this was it.
