In September of 2001, when I had recently retired from teaching, the branch Church of Christ, Scientist, where I was a member was holding elections for First and Second Reader. While church members are free to withdraw their names from the eligibility list, it had always been my practice to keep my name on the list for Readers and other church officers. But that evening I was thinking seriously about removing my name. I had been praying about a stubborn sore on one leg, and it wasn’t showing any signs of healing.
I was receiving more votes for First Reader at each ballot, but one particularly discouraging “what if” was trying to persuade me to drop out. If the spot on my leg wasn’t healed and I should pass on while in office, I thought, it would be very difficult for my fellow church members to deal with. Ultimately, though, I left my name in, realizing it was safe to trust God’s disposal of events. I knew that the office of First Reader would require me to consistently study the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy and pray for direction, and therefore keep me close to God, promoting healing. Shortly, I was elected for the next three years.
I loved the job of First Reader and was grateful to find the work filled my free time. It was a joy to listen for spiritual ideas and choose hymns and citations for each Sunday service and Wednesday testimony meeting. But the sore didn’t clear up.
