In December, 1936, I found myself at the termination of a partnership, entirely on my own, and with no visible source of supply. All I had was sales ability and excellent connections throughout the province of British Columbia, Canada, with the retail trade in ladies' ready-to-wear clothing.
I was a very new student of Christian Science at that time, and my understanding of it was summed up in this statement of our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 494): "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." I had great faith in this statement.
Since I needed agencies of ready-to-wear clothing to start in business for myself, I decided to go to eastern Canada in search of suitable firms to represent in British Columbia. I knew no one personally in the East, but divine Love led me in all I did, and I returned to British Columbia with exactly the type of agencies I had been looking for. Three of these agencies I retained intact for fifteen years.
This early demonstration of God's government in business was based largely on faith, with very little understanding of the divine Principle behind the solution of the problem of supply. But I was most grateful, and I endeavored to show my gratitude by a more earnest study of Christian Science.
More recently it appeared that my business was about to retrograde. I was notified that one of my agencies was being placed elsewhere. This step was being taken in the midst of a sales season, and it left me no opportunity to replace the line I was representing. The agency's whole season of business was at stake. I became very disturbed, as this particular agency had become one of my main sources of income.
Because the matter was vital to my whole setup, I immediately flew East to consult the firm in question. I found the sales manager away for the week end; so I consulted a Christian Science practitioner at once, and we used the next three days to realize the truth.
Of course there were several errors to be cleared out of my thinking, but this clearing out could not have taken place on the basis of my previous demonstration, which had been largely through faith alone. Fear of lack, resentment at injustice, and doubt of man's perfection, all had to be dealt with, and this work required an understanding of divine Principle, the basis of Christian Science.
The practitioner and I worked closely together to see the perfect Father supplying all good to His children. It was clear that in reality I could have no lack because man inherits all good from God. I saw too that since my brother man is just as much a reflection of God as I am, there is no possibility of his being governed by error of any kind. This truth enabled me to see myself more clearly as purely spiritual, as experiencing nothing but good, and to see others in the same light. The realization of these truths released me from all thought of condemnation of any person.
When I had the interview with the manager of the firm, everything was settled to the entire satisfaction of everyone concerned. I retained the agency, and it continued to be a valuable source of income.
I was healed of the smoking and social drinking habit when I reached the point where my desire for church membership and the opportunity to serve our beloved Cause outweighed the desire for false pleasures. I am most grateful for the teachings of Christian Science, for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church, and for class instruction.— Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
