After studying Christian Science but a few days, I could see that drinking and smoking were not in accord with its teachings. Furthermore, I reasoned that the understanding and application of what I was reading depended upon the ability to think clearly at all times. This enabled me to drop social drinking abruptly and completely; but I was not able to handle the smoking habit as decisively.
I read many testimonies of quick healings of this habit and hoped that I could be healed effortlessly, but this was not the case. I tried stopping smoking altogether and cutting down the number of cigarettes I smoked, but the harder I tried to overcome it, the worse the desire to smoke became. Finally I decided that I was using will power and that perhaps I should just continue to study Science while indulging in smoking and wait until I was healed.
About this time I heard an explanation of the difference between will power and wisdom. It was said that to know what is right and to continue to do what is wrong is human will, but to know what is right and to do it is wisdom. This made me see that it was human will to smoke when I knew that there is no true pleasure to be derived from matter.
