My wife and I became interested in Christian Science when a family member was introduced to it by a close friend. Right from the start, I loved reading the testimonies in the Christian Science magazines. As I pursued my own study of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, I found that, even as a beginner, I could put what I was reading into practice with good results.

But even more, a whole new way of life was beginning to open up. I became less interested in using conventional medicine, and stopped automatically taking at face value what the physical senses were telling me. In short, I was gaining an understanding of spiritual reality, which is entirely good and universal.

My first major healing happened this way. Although I had never been a big drinker, I nevertheless was a pretty steady social drinker. One afternoon I went into the kitchen and found a half-pint bottle of liquor that was about half full, and I decided to finish it off. As soon as I'd done this, however, I thought, "Why did you do that?" I had no answer. Just as quickly, I realized that the liquor had had no effect on me. Once I had acquired a taste for drinking, I had always liked the high it gave me. But this time, I hadn't enjoyed it, and it hadn't produced any kind of pleasurable aftereffect. I may as well have been drinking water.

After this incident, I noticed that every time someone asked me to have a drink, I declined, without really knowing why. Several months passed before I realized that I'd been completely healed of wanting to drink even socially. For some time, I had wanted, deep down, to stop drinking. I felt that it wasn't healthy, and it didn't fit with what I was learning from the Bible and Science and Health about my true nature as God's reflection. Then one day when I was reading Science and Health, I came across this statement: "Desire is prayer..." (p. 1). I recognized that my sincere desire to be free of drinking had helped bring about the healing. This happened more than 50 years ago, and I've never had any desire for alcohol since. I also was able to permanently quit smoking.

Other healings followed. For example, because of my work, I was outside throughout the year. Every winter, I would get the flu. Among the symptoms, I was just completely drained of energy. One year, after having been in bed for several days, I asked my wife to call a Christian Science practitioner and ask her to pray for me. The practitioner asked my wife to put me on the phone, but I was so sick, I couldn't hold the receiver. The practitioner told my wife to put the phone on the pillow by my ear. Then the practitioner read a hymn to me which begins,

When she finished reading the hymn, I was completely healed. I had felt God's loving power gently lifting the burden and discomfort of all those symptoms. From then on, I looked for a healing message in each of the Christian Science hymns. This healing was a real inspiration to me—a beacon light in my life. I realized that Christian Science really worked, and that I could be a part of the healing it promises. I had seen how quickly and powerfully truth transforms thought.

Several years ago, a bodily discharge developed that caused severe discomfort. Although I didn't have the condition diagnosed, the symptoms frightened me, and I imagined the worst. I called a Christian Science practitioner for prayerful help. She said, "I'll get right on it." I don't remember anything else she said, but I do know that I immediately began to feel the effects of her prayer. My fear lessened, and all the worrying about this being some fatal disease just dropped away. For the first time in several days, I had a peaceful night. The next day, the discharge stopped, and it has never returned.

I see these healings as proofs of God's care for me. My study of Christian Science is a continuing education in which I learn that God created us perfect, and that He never leaves us. I see healing as being able simply to realize that perfection.

France Bozeman
Davenport, Florida