After I graduated from college and returned to my family’s farm for a career in growing apples, I struggled mightily with the question, “What can I do with my life to do the most good?” I was successful at growing fruit, and hungry people needed food to eat, so my career choice felt fine. But I also had neighbors suffering from disease, depression, loneliness, anger, pain, and other troubles. My heart went out to them. I wanted to help.
Eventually, I realized that I didn’t have to be a sideline observer of people’s woes. I could help them find healing through my practice of Christian Science. As I committed to helping others through Christian Science, people asked for help, and I was ready to respond with prayer. When I prayed as explained in Christian Science, I was heartened to see sick people getting well, pain going away, supply being found in the face of lack, and hope and happiness returning where there had been sadness. Even though my business career was flourishing, the reward of seeing people overcome numerous forms of evil through God’s power was far more rewarding to me than any number of apples produced by our orchard. I felt I had found a calling that empowered me to do the most good with my life. I left the farm and devoted myself full time to the Cause of Christian Science healing, and it has proved to be one of the most satisfying life-decisions I ever made.
Looking back, I fell in love with the practice of Christian Science because it’s at the heart of a Cause that helps humanity meet the greatest need of all—to know God and to understand man’s relation to God and how God’s love and care meets human needs. It follows in the footsteps of Jesus, who understood better than anyone that mankind’s primary need is always spiritual. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, dissolved pain, restored sanity, calmed storms, and raised the dead through relying on spiritual power. His understanding of God’s omnipotence empowered him to conquer evil and restore health and harmony to the sick and suffering through prayer, and he expected his followers to do the same. He taught, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33, New Living Translation). I have found this instruction to be true as I’ve applied the truths of Christian Science in my life and for those who ask for help.
