When I was very young and was studying at a university, I...

RODOLFO A. WEIDMANN with contributions from JESSIE D. NICHOLS

When I was very young and was studying at a university, I suddenly found myself face-to-face with new demands in life that I was not spiritually prepared to meet. Up until then I hadn't known what God is and the relationship that exists between God and man. I felt like a leaf detached from a tree, tossed by the winds of a mortal and material world.

At a time of grave economic crisis that acutely affected my family, we lost our father. We eight children were studying in our different fields, without work. We had been supported and were not bringing in any income. It fell to me to take over the management of the family's properties, among which was an establishment out in the country, with livestock, tenants, and field hands. The profits from this establishment were meager during the economic crisis of 1930 to 1933. Our mother's health was precarious, and the doctors did not hold out much hope for her recovery.

As I felt personally responsible for everything to do with the family, and, since I had no spiritual support to rely on, I felt I was facing disaster. This affected my health. I seemed to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I suffered from insomnia, extreme nervousness, anguish, pessimism, and fear. Not only was my health upset, but worse, what had been my father's and my dream—my university career—was disturbed. I felt powerless in the face of the academic requirements, and the fear grew. It did no good to rest or to slow the pace of my tasks. Everything disturbed me. That was the point I had reached. We read in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy that "'man's extremity is God's opportunity'" (p. 266). I awoke to a new reality that was to life me out of the abyss I was carried to, allowing me not only to complete my university career but also to lead a normal life and be a useful member to my family and to the community.

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