Article January 13, 2003 Issue

'I DIDN'T WANT TO TRUST A RANDOM GOD'

Jan Keeler

I GREW UP GOING TO THE HORSE RACES. My family just thought of it as recreation. The setting was in the beautiful mountains in New Mexico, and we loved it. I felt as if it was perfectly innocent, and as far as I could understand, or see, it did not hurt our family.

I was aware, however, that there were issues related to this activity. For example, there were people who struggled with the addiction to gambling and who were using their money, or losing their money, when they needed it for essentials in life. Also, I had friends who were very sincere and concerned about me. They felt, in their words, that I would "go to hell" because I was going to the races. I just never understood how that could happen if God was a loving God, and if our intentions were not impure.

Later I started to study Christian Science, and I was loving what I was learning about God. Then one day, I learned that Christian Scientists don't gamble. At first I thought that a Christian Scientist was coming from the same standpoint as my other friends, and I didn't like that. I actually was offended. So I called a Christian Science practitioner. I asked him if I could have an appointment with him, and if I could go to his office.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

'I FEEL COMFORT AND INNER PEACE'