AS A YOUNG ADULT, I often asked myself if I could live without being a church member or attending church services. I wondered if it was enough to simply rely on my own study or attend a lecture or visit a Christian Science Reading Room when I felt inspired or had a need.
After college, I left an ambitious career path to marry a man I thought needed my rescuing from difficult circumstances; but soon after we were married, things began to take a turn for the worse. Although I wanted to salvage this struggling marriage, and fix what seemed to be a hopeless situation, I had little success. I was beginning to doubt my identity, my beliefs, and my reason for being. I was living away from my family in New York City, and, throughout this situation, I still managed to find my way to a Christian Science church every week. I visited all the Christian Science branch churches in the city craving answers and a sense of belonging. At each church, people were friendly and the services were inspiring, but I wasn't feeling a connection with any of them. I thought there had to be a place where I could feel the total comfort and love I had felt growing up in my Christian Science Sunday School.
I was beginning to feel hopeful and strengthened by all I was learning about God and my relationship to Him. This made me want to give back and become a member of the church.
