About four years ago, members of my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, elected me First Reader. I was very much enjoying conducting the weekly services and the closeness to God that I felt. Six weeks later, however, a series of personal challenges began. Over a period of five months, they prevented me from fulfilling my duties as First Reader. But looking back, I see that they were opportunities to understand more of God’s allness and the nothingness of whatever is unlike God, good.

First, there was secretion at my hairline, and a month later, unlovely sores on my body. At first this scared me. But I had the prayerful help of a Christian Science practitioner, and early in the second month I received a wonderful gift—a happiness and joy that did not cease. I was learning that I am a complete idea of God. As His idea, I am unchangeable. It does not matter what appears to be going on in the body, because my life is solely in God.

The physical problems that appeared after this—blurry vision, trouble walking, and trouble with bodily functions—could not scare me. What a calming sense this brought to the healing work.