Christian Science was first presented to me at a time when I had lost all desire to be identified with church activities. The first time I entered a Church of Christ, Scientist, and saw the words, "God is Love," I said, "What a wonderful slogan. Why do not all churches use it?" When I was told that it was not a slogan but a statement from the Holy Bible (I John 4:8), I was dismayed to realize that I was not aware of the source of this statement. I was further impressed with the silent prayers of the congregation and realized for the first time that it would be here that I would learn to pray.
Because of a lifetime of materialistic thinking and dependence on material medicine I could not so readily accept the concept of spiritual healing. But as I attended the Sunday services and Wednesday testimony meetings regularly, I gradually began to realize that this is a religion that is demonstrable. I did not appreciate the emphasis on the healing work because I was not at that time in need of it; but there was a deeper and more significant reason for resisting healing through prayer. It was the need for reformation. I hurriedly skimmed over the words "reforms the sinner," when reading the opening sentence in the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love." I felt I was not ready for the genuine reformation that I knew was needed if I was to give up reliance on material methods and depend wholly on Christian Science for healing.
A real turning point came when I was instantaneously healed of the effects of a sting from a flying insect on successive days. The first healing resulted as I read at random a statement from the textbook that healed me of resentment over being told to cut away some honeysuckle vine that I dearly loved. The next day I was pruning a shrub and was stung again. This time I promptly denied that I was or could be a victim of unprovoked attack. The stinging sensation ceased instantly, and this made a lasting impression. From that moment the resistance to reformation began to lessen.
