How I Found Christian Science July 23, 2012 Issue

'A spiritual model of life'

William Otieno—Nairobi, Kenya

Awilyn Images

I was introduced to Christian Science about 13 years ago, two weeks before my final exam in secondary school. At the time, I had unpaid school fees and was told I could not sit for the exam without clearing all the fees. The same day, I met a friend on my way home. He had a book in his hand, and I requested to read it while we waited for the bus. I saw that it was titled Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, and I expected it to be about science as I knew it—something like biology or physics.

As I read, I found what I had been yearning for: a spiritual model of life. I loved the book from the outset and requested to borrow it for just a week, but my friend said I could keep it as long as I needed. As I read the chapter “Prayer,” I discovered that what I thought I lacked in finances for school fees was really a limitation of my own thoughts. I did not lack anything as the image and likeness of God. This realization ruled out the fear and helplessness I was feeling about not being able to sit for exams. The sense of freedom I felt reminded me of David’s exclamation, “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” (I Samuel 17:37).

Science and Health enabled me to understand such stories of victory as a result of reliance on God alone. My guardian, with whom I was staying, was preparing me for the worst, as he was not able to pay my exam fees—but I prepared for the best, convinced a solution would appear if I relied on God. I continued studying for the exams, all the while reading Science and Health. I saw I did not need an intermediary like a pastor or preacher to pray for me if I had a challenge—I could pray by myself by applying this new-found Science according to the Bible and Science and Health.