Article August 11, 2014 Issue

To win 'the right of way'

Chaylee Posson

Originally published as a Web Original on July 16, 2014

A few years ago, I was receiving phone calls from a collection agency that was trying to collect several thousand dollars from me for a medical bill I had not been able to pay. I was unemployed, living with my parents, and was planning on going to college. Between the time of incurring the bill and these phone calls, I had rededicated myself to Christian Science after several years of leaving the religion, and I was again relying on prayer for healing. At the time, I admit I felt a strong sense of self-will and self-righteousness about not paying the medical bill.

I had to do the right thing, by being loving.

One day, I could see from caller I.D. that the collection agency was calling, and I was impelled to answer the phone. I explained to the woman on the line that I had no income, I was planning on going to college, and I could see no way for me to make payments on this debt. The debt collector aggressively persisted in telling me that I must pay my bill. I became very frustrated and hung up. I sat on my bed and cried, asking God what to do.