As a child I was extremely shy and retiring, and as I grew older this condition became more pronounced. In high school I realized I had not made a single friend among my classmates, and after graduation I found myself very lonely and very much afraid of what the future might bring.
My parents had long been interested in Christian Science and were members of a branch church as well as The Mother Church. In fact, through its teachings, two members of my immediate family had been restored to normal activities after being given up by the medical profession. However, my own attitude toward it was completely apathetic, and when I thought about it at all, which was not very often, it was only in times of physical need.
As I grew more withdrawn and more frightened with each passing day, my parents tried in every way they knew to show me that Christian Science could help in this instance as well, but I resisted every attempt they made. Finally, a noticeable and unsightly condition appeared on my forehead, adding considerably to the fear and anxiety I already felt. When this happened, my father insisted that I go to see a practitioner; this I reluctantly agreed to do.
