From early childhood I had a deep interest in religion...

From early childhood I had a deep interest in religion and eagerly accepted any opportunity to attend church services, no matter what the denomination. But my interest in religion was motivated more from a fear of death than from a love of life.

When I was in high school my family lived with an aunt who was a Christian Scientist. At the first service we attended at her branch Church of Christ, Scientist, I felt a wonderful sense of peace. I did not become a serious student of Christian Science at that time (I remember having no hope that I would ever overcome the cigarette habit), but I did attend the Sunday School for a year.

During the following years, I drifted away from the teachings of Christian Science. I married, and when we became the parents of three daughters, I was continually fearful for the children's health and welfare. In fact, I became much involved in medical theories and material medicine. In one eight-month period, we had one illness after another. Then the youngest child, a two-year-old, was taken to a hospital, where we were given a diagnosis of polio. We were told that her condition was critical, that all her limbs were paralyzed, and that we would not be allowed to see her. All we could do was go home and pray. As we left I silently avowed, "Dear Father, I've gone as far as I can go with material ways. You are my Life, and I'm surrendering myself to You. Whatever You want me to do, I'll do."

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February 13, 1984
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