Article July 4, 1988 Issue

You have important candlepower

The Christian Science Monitor

In his great Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus said to his disciples: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."^{Matt. 5:14–16.}

There was a time when my candle was flickering. In fact, I would have preferred hiding both it and myself so no one would notice! A series of events in my life had left me feeling separated from God. (I've since recognized what an impossibility it is to be separated from our creator. We may turn from Him, but He never turns from us.) My circle of friends knew I was a Christian Scientist, and they had great respect for my way of living, which included abstaining from the use of alcohol and drugs. My being the only nondrinker at our social gatherings had long since been accepted.

At a party during this period of self-imposed depression I decided to "join the crowd." Before the glass touched my lips, someone took it from my hand, saying, "Oh, no, not you. Please don't do this." I hadn't even realized anyone was watching! I wasn't being myself and my friend knew it. He didn't like what he saw. The unnatural—and for me, dishonest— desire to turn to alcohol for a lift, instead of to God, never cropped up again.

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