When my father died over 20 years ago, he was the founder and CEO of a large corporation, a dynamic individual, with vision, charisma, and business acumen. He was a religious man, a deacon in his church, and a Sunday School teacher for young college students. He was a generous man, who took care of his extended family and contributed to this community.
But he also had a hidden, darker side. My father had a violent temper. And he sexually abused me for 20 years, beginning when I was about three years old.
By the time I got to college, I had many problems. But it was during this period that I encountered Christian Science. I felt the immediate effects of this newfound truth, including freedom from physical pain and low self-esteem. One day while walking across the campus, I saw Jesus' words inscribed on a building: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32. From the spiritual discovery I was experiencing, I felt I now knew what it was to know the truth of God's presence in my life and how liberating that was. This spiritual knowledge made me feel hopeful beyond what I had previously thought possible.
