Article May 29, 1978 Issue

The guilt trip

GERALDINE KARP

The guilt trip—it's no joy ride. If you've ever taken it, you can attest to that. And if you've never gone for a ride on this agonizing road, congratulations! You're one of the very few of us who hasn't. Here is an example of how my own guilt trip came to a screeching stop.

I was the Reader of our Christian Science college organization. A few years prior to this I had made the not-so-firm decision to stop smoking cigarettes. Being a member of The Mother Church, I had vowed that I wouldn't smoke or drink. I knew both cigarettes and alcohol steal away God's very first gift to man, dominion. Although I had given up actual smoking, the desire still lingered. Once in a blue moon this dormant desire would surface, and I'd take a drag of a friend's cigarette. When I was sitting in an English class one day, my blue moon appeared. So, I lit up. As if on cue, someone from our college organization strolled into the room.

This person was a brand-new member of the organization and a new student of Christian Science. He frequently asked me, as an experienced Christian Scientist, questions about our religion's demands and rewards. And there I was, Reader of the organization, blowing smoke rings!

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