At the annual election meeting of the branch Church of Christ, Scientist, of which I was a member my name appeared on the ballot for First Reader. During the eighteen months preceding this, I had been negotiating to become an agent and import a very promising line of new products into western Canada. Consideration of the details of a final contract awaited only another week or two.
Instantly I realized that if I was elected, it would be necessary to give up the plans I had been working on, as the work of agent required much travel and absence from church. A clear-cut choice faced me. The temptation to jump up and withdraw my name was great; or I could trust the outcome to God. After a few minutes of intense struggle, I was given the grace to keep still, praying silently Christ Jesus' words from the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:10), "Thy will be done." On a succeeding ballot I was elected First Reader for a three-year term.
Consequently I withdrew from the business venture, continuing in my position as a school principal, but with a nagging temptation to feel that through obedience I had lost a fine opportunity. Also, this change in plans posed an urgent problem. My employing school board had given notice a year previously that the contracts of all teachers with less than a stipulated standard of certification would not be renewed the following September.
I was in the affected category. Having planned to leave teaching, I had not taken steps toward completing the required work. Now I found myself in the position of having to qualify in five units of academic study. Seven units constituted a heavy year's work for full-time students. In addition to carrying an exceptionally heavy teaching and administrative load, caring for a young family, and having three church services each week, there was this study project.
Starting to read in February, I quickly discovered that the work of First Reader required that I unswervingly put this work first and that only after all necessary preparation had been unstintingly done, could I turn to my own demanding affairs.
In the middle of March I was able to make a start on the five units that had to be cleared by the first week in September. Competent tutors were found for the three heaviest subjects, on a once-a-week basis. For one of these, chemistry, the tutor just shook his head in complete disbelief that what I was undertaking was in any way possible. However, I encouraged him, and we began our once-a-week sessions.
Only the conviction of God's presence and allness, which Christian Science imparts, sustained me and met my need for intelligence, strength, and time.
At the end of June I successfully wrote two of the units, but felt the need for further work on the remaining three, which could be written at the beginning of September. Chemistry was one of these. I had not yet quite covered the first half of the required textbook. Tutoring was not available after the end of June.
At the end of July my wife and I, with our two baby daughters, went to the Pacific Coast, where I attended my annual Christian Science class association meeting. During this time, while I continued my studies, I had Mrs. Eddy's wonderful promise (Science and Health, p. 444), "Step by step will those who trust Him find that 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.'" Finding I needed more time on the chemistry course, we cut short our holiday by two weeks. I planned to give this subject my undivided attention on my return.
At home I received a call from a member of my branch church, asking me to give prayerful help in Christian Science for her husband, who was in great need. Feeling clearly my first debt was to God, I agreed.
On only two occasions was I ever free to pick up the chemistry text, but each time there was a telephone call for further help, and the book was laid down unopened.
On the last weekend in August I went to visit the patient, and noticed on the living-room table an examination paper in chemistry his daughter had written in June. Much of it appeared to be beyond my knowledge, but there came to me a clear guidance to sit for the examination at the beginning of the week, although earlier I had begun to feel it was hopeless to write the test.
I went to the examination, and it was a remarkable experience! A good mark resulted, as was also the case with the other two units I wrote in the same week.
These events took place in the opening year of World War II. About midyear the Canadian Government passed an order-in-council as a wartime measure, which made importation into Canada of anything but strategic war materials almost impossible. Within a few months a second order "froze" everyone to his employment of that date.
My eyes were opened! What I had been tempted to feel was loss and hardship at the time of my election as Reader was shown to be divine Love's tender guidance and care. In making the choice to put God's will first, I had been protected from entering upon a course of disaster.
The three years' work as First Reader was richly rewarding. I carried from the whole experience deep gratitude for God's love and care.
How truly, if we trustingly obey Christ Jesus' command (Matt. 6:33), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," we receive the fulfillment of his accompanying promise, "and all these things shall be added unto you."
Langley, British Columbia, Canada
