When Christian Science was first presented to me many years ago, I was unprepared to accept its teachings; and after a cursory perusal of the textbook by Mrs. Eddy, which had been kindly loaned me, I returned it with the thought that I would be unable to gain the necessary faith. Also I felt I would be unwilling to give up such material pleasures as smoking and drinking, which I was convinced were necessary to my happiness.
The years which followed brought many disillusionments and much inharmony, and I began to suffer from attacks of neuralgia, which grew increasingly severe and recurred more frequently. Finally I visited a doctor, who informed me compassionately that there was no permanent cure and that, to quote his own words, the condition would be my "cross forever." I came away from this consultation with deep despair within my heart, feeling that life was scarcely worth living. Human relationships were difficult, and I experienced an almost unbearable sense of loneliness when my only child went away to school.
On page 574 of Science and Health we read, "The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares." It was at this point of sheer human misery, when everything seemed to have failed, that I recalled the textbook; and although I could not believe it could heal me, I felt it might at least bring me peace of mind. I had no idea where to obtain it; so I went to one of the leading booksellers, who said they would procure it for me. I threw away all drugs, and when I received the book I commenced to read and ponder one page at a time.
