As I was growing up, when something unfortunate would happen to me or to a friend or relative, I used to think, "Well, that's life." That's what I had been taught, and I believed it. After all, my life hadn't been so great. My parents were divorced when I was in first grade. As I grew older they both had serious physical difficulties. Things were rough for both them and me. Over and over again as I grew up I was told, "Do the best you can, and that is all you can do, because that's life."
As the years passed I experimented with drugs, alcohol, meditation, homeopathy, and creative visualization—all in a desperate search for truth. Something in me was not willing to accept that things had to stay permanently bad. So I kept searching.
After one year of college, I decided to transfer to a music school. My first roommate there was a Christian Scientist. (I had never heard of Christian Science.) It didn't take long for me to notice that he was different: he rarely got sick, and if he did, it wasn't for long; he was always happy, eager to help others, and excited about life; he didn't drink or smoke; and he had two books on his desk that he studied, especially every morning. Where were his problems?
One day I asked him about the books on his desk as well as the reason why he seemed so on top of things, and this is when my concept of life began to change. Through a series of in-depth discussions running late into the night, I learned more and more about God's love and the spiritual truths that were so dear to my roommate. This was the first person ever to tell me that I didn't have to suffer, that God could do much better than my human best, and that I did not have to accept that the many unfortunate experiences I'd had could adversely affect my life. In fact, he explained that these experiences were no part of my real selfhood, because spiritual man forever dwells in God's care.
Well, once I had been touched by God's love, I just wouldn't settle for anything less. My roommate invited me to a Christian Science Sunday School class, which I attended. He also invited me to a Wednesday evening testimony meeting, where I was touched by the church members' love both for Christian Science and for the others present, not just Christian Scientists. Overwhelmed by how different this was from all of the systems I had tried, I was just about knocked out of my chair by the feeling I got from just listening.
Finally I realized I didn't have to accept the very old and very false concept that evil is an inevitable part of life. I attended Sunday School regularly, got my own copies of the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and one year later joined The Mother Church.
Since I began to study Christian Science there have been some clear physical healings, such as those of headaches and intestinal troubles. Also, I've been thoroughly healed of any desire for drugs or alcohol. But mainly, my healing has been a healing of the heart. It's been a healing of my whole life and the direction it was taking. This to me is the most important healing of all.
I am so grateful for Christian Science and for Mrs. Eddy's receptivity to this wonderful, healing Truth. I am grateful for Christ Jesus, who has set the perfect example for all and who has shown that God is ever present and that Life is God. I am also indescribably grateful for my roommate, who was fearless enough to share Christian Science, patient enough to answer my questions, and trusting enough to put the whole situation in God's hands. Now I understand better than ever before what Life really is.
Boston, Massachusetts
