A few years ago several medical specialists diagnosed my condition as incurable arthritis. For me, this meant inability to work and loss of a job. I was in pain, and there were symptoms of paralysis in the upper part of my body. One specialist suggested a risky operation on the spine.
The painkiller drugs I took at that time had disturbing side effects and became increasingly ineffective in relieving me of pain. Therefore my husband and I searched in the wilderness of swampy areas for medicinal herbs. Fear and despair governed me. With the Psalmist I could say (Ps. 116:3), "The pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow." Truly "man's extremity is God's opportunity."
One hot summer day my husband stopped at a lonely house to fetch some cold water for me, unaware that we would here be given more—the living water of the Christ, Truth. The friendly couple invited us to sit down under their huge apple tree. Lovingly they brought us refreshments. I inquired about a physician. They called our attention to Christian Science, which teaches that God is our Physician, healing all manner of disease. Like the thirsty wanderer in the desert, we drank in every word.
