The night before I left my home to work for the United States Foreign Service, I opened the Bible to these verses: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ... If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."
These words from the one hundred thirty-ninth Psalm (verses 7,9, and 10) remained a beacon, a strong assurance of God's ever-presence, throughout a long and rewarding career. The career itself, with its ever-changing scenes of action, its assignments to capital cities throughout the world, became—thanks to Christian Science—a spiritual odyssey that led me from the surface pleasantness of being a Foreign Service employee who also happened to be a Christian Scientist, to the rugged but far more rewarding ground of being a Christian Scientist who also happened to be a Foreign Service employee. And in direct proportion to the precedence I gave Christian Science in my life, every aspect of my career advanced.
In all but two of the countries in which I served, there was either a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, or a Christian Science Society. By joining one or the other at the beginning of each assignment, I was able to establish an immediate sense of home. My membership also helped me gain spiritual insight into the country itself—insight that greatly increased my understanding of and love for the land in which I served. (I'm deeply grateful to those Christian Science churches and societies that hold services in both English and the native language. I know from experience the enormous dedication and effort involved. I also know the spiritual rewards they bring.)
