Forty years ago I was practicing as an accountant in Hay and other towns in the far southwest of New South Wales, Australia. I was a longtime member of the local Anglican church but had not attended for quite a while.

During this time I was asked to provide professional support and advice to a woman who was the majority shareholder of a company that owned a substantial grazing property. During an initial conference with this new client, who was of advanced years, I was very impressed with her mental and physical abilities, which indicated to me that there was something special going on with this person. I was aware that she was a Christian Scientist, but I knew nothing about its practice. Being a committed Christian but not having a church home, I asked questions about Christian Science. She answered lovingly but in terms I didn’t always understand.

Later, this client presented me with a leather-bound copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I started reading it at the first opportunity. The opening words of the Preface, “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings” (p. vii), held great promise and were proved to be true in my experience.