Following my graduation from high school, timidity and a fear of office work prevented my success in any kind of business, although I had an interest in Christian Science. While crossing a street I saw a page of the Bible lying in the gutter. I picked it up and read these words (Jer. 40:4): "Behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. ... Behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go." I immediately set about studying Christian Science consecratedly. In the next few months I was able to enter a business school, and at the end of that training I was able to take an office position that previously would have been closed to me. This work was a steppingstone, and each successive position brought growth and eradicated a sense of inferiority, which had handicapped me.
In being released from a teaching position, in which almost all evaluation had shown success, I felt that I had suffered a grave injustice. I did not give in to this unjust feeling, although many of my colleagues were considerably disturbed. I did, though, ask help of a Christian Science practitioner who lived in a distant city. After a few days on the case, the practitioner wrote that he felt the problem had been met. The fruitage of the work had not yet presented itself, but I had no feeling of anxiety, resentment, or even of curiosity. I was led to the passage on page 452 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, which reads, "When outgrowing the old, you should not fear to put on the new." I prayed daily that its meaning in my case would be made clear.
It came to me that since I had come to a stopping place in my work, it would be well to return to college for my master's degree. Although the available funds were barely sufficient as the fall semester approached and no position presented itself, it became clear that this would be the path to follow, despite its attendant sacrifices.
