Freshman writing class 101. Ten-page paper due every week for one solid quarter. A nightmare for me! I would start Sunday night, work on the paper all week, and barely make my Friday deadline. When the papers were returned, I was often reduced to tears. Every single one was graded C, and each was generously decorated with bright red marks, comments, and suggestions.
Fast-forward to my senior year, close to graduation. I made an ordered list of all the things I would love to do with my life. The very last thing on the list was “garbage collecting.” After pausing a moment, I added below that, “writing.”
Well, with such an aversion to writing, I might have felt justified in finding other ways to serve church. Yet I had a deep love for the Christian Science periodicals. They had become trustworthy, ever-fresh, ever-available friends. Often an article would transform my thought from discouragement or depression to sweet gratitude. They always seemed to have just the right new inspiration and practical ideas to help me keep growing spiritually.
