As a journalist in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, I spent several months filing stories for a news organization based in Lagos, the former capital. Eventually, however, I lost my job due to a reorganization in the company. Of course, the situation gave rise to loss of income. One thing led to another and I was compelled to return to my home state of Imo. I was brokenhearted over the job loss.
Shortly after, well-meaning suggestions poured in about how I could survive unemployment. One piece of advice came from a kinsman who opined that I should take to alcohol, as it would make me happy. I turned down his advice due to the conviction that, if anything, alcohol would give me only temporary happiness and afterward worsen my situation, and more important, jeopardize my devotion to the healing ministry of Christian Science.
I often found solace in the hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal.
