A number of years ago I realized that the Protestant church in which I had been active all my life was not helping me to understand God and my relationship to Him. This realization came to me at a time when I greatly needed inspiration. I was discouraged about my work and life in general. I was extremely tired and had lost my sense of joy. When I was told by the medical profession that I would have to rest for at least a year or I would experience a complete collapse, I resigned my position and went home to be with my family.
Shortly after my arrival I received a wire offering me a position as recreation director at a settlement house in a nearby city. I was too disturbed to even think of accepting the position, but I was urged to think it over before refusing it. A day or so later a friend who had learned of my need through a member of my family called to invite me to go with her to the Christian Science Wednesday evening testimony meeting the following night. Not wanting to seem ungrateful, I accepted the invitation, but without interest or enthusiasm. During the singing of the first hymn I felt a great sense of peace, and I was surprised to find myself singing, although I had not heard the hymn before. At the close of the meeting I realized that my prayer had been answered, for I felt sure that a study of Christian Science would unlock the Bible for me and give to me the understanding of God that I had been seeking.
The friend taught me how to read the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, and I did little else for days. I accepted the position offered me just one month later, and through radical reliance on God I found my way to complete freedom, both physical and mental. I was very happy in the work with the children and young people.
