Article April 6, 1981 Issue

One of a series of articles by young people who have in recent years become Christian Scientists. They explain how they became interested in Science, what convinced them of its utility and truth, and how its teachings have changed their lives.

I had to be what I believed

DOUGLAS JOHN PORTILLO

I first heard about Christian Science in high school. Life seemed hopeless. I had just been placed with a foster family because of child abuse. In addition to experimenting with drugs and becoming addicted to amphetamines, I had recently come out of a hospital after recovering from a second suicide attempt. A friend in school who knew of my situation gave me a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. I began to read the chapter "Prayer." Though it didn't make complete sense to me at the time, it was inspiring and gave me hope. My foster parents insisted Christian Science was evil and forbade me to read Science and Health. Out of respect for them the study was dropped.

After finishing high school, I began a career in singing, took a job, and moved out on my own. A great deal of difficulty developed, though, because I often had epileptic seizures—something that had plagued me since childhood. One day a girl in the cast I was with mentioned Christian Science. Recalling the hope and inspiration I had once got from the textbook, I was eager to learn more. We began to talk about Science, and the next day she brought me a copy of Science and Health, the book A Century of Christian Science Healing, and some other Christian Science literature. After reading Science and Health and the Bible Lesson^{In the Christian Science Quarterly.} for less than a month, I realized that there had been no seizures. In addition, I could see that a very definite and wonderful transformation of my thinking had begun. I knew I had found the truth. That was six years ago, and there hasn't been a seizure since.

Getting over the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs wasn't easy. I was practically their slave. But as I began to learn more about man as God's idea, they simply lost their appeal. It wasn't just a matter of my quitting, but of altogether losing the desire to rely on any such material, temporary means for satisfaction. I was satisfied with a freedom and joy that didn't depend on anything but God's love.

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