At the beginning of my three-year term as First Reader of my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, my husband and I joined our extended family for a ski trip. It was a lovely time full of adventure and joy. But on the last day, I began to feel ill with aggressive flu symptoms—something I had suffered from with various degrees of severity every winter. 

When we returned home, I needed to prepare readings for our church’s weekly testimony meeting three days away. I prayed, yet felt more imprisoned than free. I called every substitute First Reader on the list, but none was available. In answer to prayer, a very direct angel message from God said to me, “You read. The office supports the officer.” I trusted that and expected healing.

Mary Baker Eddy writes, “When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 426). The readings came together beautifully, and on Wednesday night, on the strength of that message from divine Love, I drove to the church, aggressive symptoms and all. I stayed quietly by myself praying on my knees in the Reader’s room before the meeting. I prayed along the lines that God’s Word is loud and clear, inspired and heard, and effectual. And nothing can silence the voice of omnipresent Mind, God. I reasoned that mortal mind—whatever claims to oppose or deny the divine Mind—has no voice, no existence, and no place in Church. God is All and ever present.