During the decade of the 1930's, although I was employed most of the time, my income was not a steady one.
One day a woman had the courage to stand up to me and say, "Maybe what you need is to love more." At the moment that appeared a ridiculous statement; it seemed to me that my need was for long, green bills to line my billfold. This woman was a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, and somehow I sensed that there was a meaning in her words which was not then apparent to me so I proceeded to a nearby Christian Science Reading Room to think over what she had said.
From the list of those who at that time seemed to be personal enemies, I selected the individual who had done me the worst injustice and asked myself, "Why should I love that man?" It finally occurred to me that because of his abuse I had turned to God and had made a thorough study of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. Then I realized that that man had accomplished for me what my friends had failed to do for me and that he was therefore not an enemy but my friend. And if he was my friend, then I did not have a single enemy in the whole!
With that realization my thought was elevated; the sense of limitation disappeared, and I walked out of the Reading Room as if on air. In a few minutes I found myself before the office of a man for whom I had done some work on a temporary basis. The thought presented itself that there was no use asking him for employment; but I decided to go in and just say hello.
As I entered his reception room he saw me from his private office. When he saw me he hung up his telephone and came out to greet me, saying that he had just been trying to call me and that if I wanted to go to work, I could start right away.
How grateful I am that in Christian Science we can face disaster with confidence instead of fear! One day when the Atlantic seaboard was blanketed by a dense fog, I was in a small airplane at an elevation of eight thousand feet. On account of the atmospheric conditions, the pilot was flying by means of instruments. As we approached the airport where we were to land, the radio, on which we had been depending for navigation, ceased to function. We were unable to contact the airport. After attempting for about twenty minutes to fix the radio, we lost all knowledge of our position.
At four o'clock our fuel supply was adequate for about one hour, and daylight would expire in about thirty minutes. As I sat beside the pilot, appraising our situation, these words came to me, "Man's extremity is God's opportunity," and I said aloud, "Father, here is Your opportunity."
As we started to descend, the thought of disaster and death flashed across my mind. Then I recalled that in Christian Science I had learned that real existence is purely spiritual, without a single material element. I concluded that my true identity as a spiritual idea in Mind cannot be destroyed. As we continued to descend I rejoiced that the pilot and I were in fact ideas of God, created, maintained, supported, propelled, and guided by Him.
We broke out of the overcast just above the treetops and right beside a race track on which we were able to land. As the landing gear touched the ground, complete darkness closed in. We had broken out of the overcast in a perfect landing position after flying blind for more than one hundred miles. My prayer had been answered.
The protection of God's power which we learn to claim in Christian Science has been mine since early boyhood. For this, I am profoundly grateful.—, Seattle, Washington.
