Article June 5, 2000 Issue

My path to freedom from alcohol

Getting—and staying—sober

By S. J. Vale

I wasn't a big drinker when I was first introduced to Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. Even so, what freedom this book gave me! Much of what I read confirmed what I had sensed to be true of God but had never really understood. I felt in my heart, "Yes! God must be Truth and Love, All, and above all." I saw that there was not room for anything else if Spirit fills all time and space.

Next I wanted to put into practice what I was reading. Instead of having God seem purely theoretical to me, I wanted to feel His help throughout my day. I took heart in this promise that the laws of God are indeed practical and provable: "Beyond the frail premises of human beliefs, above the loosening grasp of creeds, the demonstration of Christian Mind-healing stands a revealed and practical Science. It is imperious throughout all ages as Christ's revelation of Truth, of Life, and of Love, which remains inviolate for every man to understand and to practise" (p. 98)

Although I loved what I was learning, I saw no need to stop drinking alcoholic beverages. When I was out with friends who were drinking, I drank some, too. Soon, though, this habit grew, and I was consuming more and more alcohol. At the time, I didn't think this was a problem since I didn't think it interfered with understanding my relation to God.

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