To the hungry heart the presentation...

Elizabeth H. Ryder

To the hungry heart the presentation, and then the unfoldment, of the truths of Christian Science provide a holy experience. My introduction to them came when, after I had spent some fruitless months under a doctor's care for a nervous breakdown, an acquaintance loaned me a lecture on Christian Science. It had been given by a member of The Christian Science Board of Lectureship and printed in The Christian Science Monitor. As I studied it, I experienced a complete healing. I also learned from it of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy and of the Christian Science Reading Rooms, where this book can be read, borrowed, or purchased.

Soon I had all Mrs. Eddy's writings, and most of my free time for the next year and a half was spent studying and questioning the contents of these books. As I read, I had many doubts; but I was impelled to continue until finally the evidence was such that I knew Christian Science did heal although my understanding of its teachings was very vague. Prior to this I had been under a physician's care most of the time and had been considered rather frail.

As I read and prayed to understand what I was reading, changes gradually began to take place. I slept naturally, and chronic indigestion, heavy colds, pleurisy, bursitis, and, finally, the desire for cigarettes just faded away, not to return. Later on, for an asthmatic condition, I requested the help of a Christian Science practitioner and was healed.

However, the important change to me was in my mental outlook. I was a high school teacher; and although I enjoyed my classroom work, I was not a happy or relaxed individual. I was impatient with the shortcomings of others. In fact, I must have been quite a forbidding person, for the young people seemed to be afraid of me, and communication was difficult.

Early in my study, a statement of Mrs. Eddy's in Science and Health had stood out quite clearly. It is (p. 259), "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration." I realized that really to accept this I had to work to erase from my thinking any ungodlike qualities which I seemed to see either in myself or in others. An unselfed love with a desire to serve must be my goal.

Before long, opportunities arose in which, in an enlarged capacity, I had the privilege of helping young people both in the classroom and in an advisory position as they worked out their problems. This continued for a number of years until I withdrew from teaching to better serve the Cause of Christian Science.

For Mrs. Eddy, who through her willingness to do God's will, has given the world this beautiful and practical religion, I am very grateful. I give thanks too for the privilege of membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church, where the experience of serving in its various offices has provided me with the joyous activity of working with and for others.—(Miss) Elizabeth H. Ryder, Alexandria, Virginia.

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