I was introduced to Christian Science at an early age and attended a Christian Science Sunday School until I was in my late teens. In Sunday School, we were taught that God is a loving God who does not cause or send any ills, and that anyone can turn to God as “a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1). I experienced physical healings, often with the help of a Christian Science practitioner, someone who is available to call on for treatment through prayer and whose healing work is based in Christian love and in understanding the teachings of Christian Science. 

After high school, I drifted away from attending Sunday School and church and lived a lifestyle more in line with that of the prodigal son in his “riotous living” days (see Luke 15:11–32). But over the years, when things became dark and fearful for me, just as they did for the prodigal, I still believed I could pray for God’s help, and I did. Through this prayer, it became apparent to me that I needed a religion that would set me on some kind of path to a more satisfying way of life. 

I looked into various traditional Christian religions and a few eastern religions. They all had very good people and ideals, but it seemed they required or assumed faith in material means for help, and believed that things would be better in an afterlife. That was not reassuring to me. Instead, I found comfort in this promise from Jesus: “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24, English Standard Version).