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.
