Many years ago, I experienced a profound healing that has expanded my world in so many ways. When I was in my teens, I was shy and did not like talking to strangers. It was very difficult for me to approach someone I didn’t know, even to do something as simple as ask for directions. 

During my college years, I did find friends and comfort in the Christian Science organization (CSO) on campus. We held weekly meetings where readings from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy helped me see that God was right there, inspiring and guiding me. At one meeting, the readings included the story of Ruth from the Bible. Her decision to leave behind all the familiar comforts of friends and family and follow her mother-in-law to a foreign land was particularly helpful. What courage that took! I could see that, like Ruth, I could embrace my new life and let myself become more involved in the CSO’s activities. 

Our CSO decided to sponsor a Christian Science lecture on campus, and our little group rallied to overcome some significant challenges in bringing the lecture to fruition. After successfully holding the lecture, we submitted a paper to The Mother Church (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston) sharing our experience. Another student and I were chosen to present the paper at a large meeting in Boston for the youth of the Church. I was feeling such stage fright at the prospect that I kept saying I would probably have to back out of this commitment. But I also decided that I needed to pray diligently to overcome this fear.