I first read Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy when I was about ten years old. I firmly believed that I was reading a great truth and that the woman who wrote this book must have been called by God. When I found out that the place my grandmother went to each Sunday was the meeting of an informal group of Christian Scientists, I informed my mother that I wanted to go to that church. The group later became a Christian Science Society, where I have served in many positions, including First Reader.
Because of the dedication of two members of The Mother Church who were commissioned to go and speak to Christian Science college organizations (CSOs) in the mid 1960s, I have been blessed with Mother Church membership. In those days I was struggling to choose between studying Christian Science or setting it aside to follow what seemed to be the more exciting lifestyle my friends were indulging in—parties and social drinking. My friends saw no harm in the weekend drinking and viewed organized religion as unnecessary. At the time I was also smoking on a daily basis and wished to give up the habit. I truly was not very happy, but this couple saw who I really was—God’s precious child—and they were there for me when I asked to talk.
That conversation led to more talks, prayer, and my commitment to the serious study of Christian Science. After I expressed to this couple my desire for Church membership, I experienced an instantaneous healing of all desire for social drinking. I had been gaining dominion over the claim of “You want to be a part of the crowd” and realized that my happiness was not dependent on others, when a friend suggested we go to a party at the far end of town. The guests had already started drinking, and we were offered a beer as well. After a sip or two I looked at the bottle and said, “I don’t want this.” I told my friend I did not want to drink at all anymore. She said the same thing, and we decided to leave the party. As we walked the miles home, we agreed that neither of us wanted to drink alcohol ever again.
