An important lesson was learned in the early years of my study of Christian Science. I was not yet a member of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, but I did faithfully study the Bible Lessons outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly. I also had a lifetime noncancelable medical health insurance policy, which I felt quite dependent on. However, I came to see that this sense of security was false.
At one time my health began to fail and I was unable to work. Certain members of my family became concerned because of the rapid deterioration of my physical condition, and persuaded me to see a physician. Afterward, I was immediately placed under strict medical care, and my wife and I were advised to move out of the city to a nearby beach town. There followed months of restrictive diets and medical treatments. But my condition did not improve. Rather I grew progressively worse. I continued losing weight, became very weak, and spent much time in bed.
Then came one of the most fearful moments of my life. One evening I was physically unable to eat or even to lift a soupspoon to my mouth, and had to be helped back to bed. I felt discouraged—even hopeless—fearing this was the end. My wife became alarmed and phoned the doctor, but because of the distance involved, he said he could not come. So my loving wife, in desperation, asked me if I wanted her to call a Christian Science practitioner for me. I nodded yes. But we had no copy of the Journal (and its listing of practitioners) with us, nor did we know the name of a practitioner. The only person in the area we knew was our real estate agent, whose office was close to our apartment. So my wife called this woman and asked her if she knew of a Christian Science practitioner; my wife said that it was important that we get in touch with one right away. She replied, "Why no, I'm sorry, I don't know of any." But then she said, "Wait a minute. There's a lady coming into the office now who I think is a Christian Science practitioner." As it turned out, she was, and soon was at my bedside.
