My search for truth

I grew up in a Jewish home, but never really connected with the religion. I suffered from depression from a young age and, as a result, became involved in drugs as a teen. I was searching for anything that would make me feel comfortable and complete. Nothing filled this void, and I always felt lost. 

During my teens, I began having irregular menstrual periods that caused me great pain. I tried medicines and acupuncture. I felt acupuncture provided a somewhat more “spiritual” approach to healing than traditional medicine, so it appeared to be more what I was looking for. I felt inspired, and after some time, I ended up earning a master’s degree in acupuncture. 

Still, I was on a journey to find truth, and I was determined to find the root cause of disease. I felt I had to understand life in a deeper way. That became my primary focus and mission. So I spent many years doing research, studying yoga, meditation, and Sufism. I became a holistic lifestyle coach, read books on Kabbalah, and converted to Islam for a while. But I still wasn’t satisfied. I had almost given up hope when a dear friend asked me what I thought about Christ Jesus. Well, people had tried to talk to me about Jesus my entire life, and I had always slammed that door shut. But by the time of my friend’s question, I had tried on what felt like every other “outfit” in terms of religion and spirituality, so I decided to give Christianity a try. 

I began reading the Bible, and friends started inviting me to their churches. I enjoyed attending, but I also felt as though every congregation was reading a different Bible than the one I was reading. For example, many seemed to be saying that Jesus was God, something I didn’t agree with. Despite feeling very alone in my thoughts, I knew I was seeking truth and following what felt like a thread of pure light that I could trust. So I kept going.

A few months later, I began divinity school. I gave up most of what I owned, embraced homelessness, and traveled around with a duffel bag full of clothes, a backpack full of books, and a laptop computer to use for my coursework. Having no sense of belonging anywhere, I soon decided church wasn’t for me and gave that up, too. 

Struggling, I went to stay with a friend for a few months. I needed a rest and was tired of being homeless. My friend and I had been studying A Course in Miracles together for the past couple of years, and we began studying a book that explained this specific system of mind-healing in greater detail. It was our ritual to open the book to a random page and read whatever we felt the Holy Spirit was illuminating for us. 

One day early in my visit with her, I found that out of almost two thousand pages, I had randomly turned to one that referenced Mary Baker Eddy and Christian Science. Although the book did not explain or support the teachings of Christian Science, this reference piqued our interest.

After reading the few lines about Christian Science, I turned to my friend and said, “Wow, who is Mary Baker Eddy?” She looked it up on her phone and read, “Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.” We immediately ordered a copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy. And the more we researched, the more certain we were that we were on to something good—really good.

The next morning we walked into the local Christian Science Reading Room and were welcomed by several Christian Scientists, members of a study group that met regularly to discuss the weekly Bible Lesson found in the Christian Science Quarterly. We introduced ourselves and told them how we had found out about Christian Science. They were so friendly and kind and invited us to attend their church service the next morning. 

By the end of that Sunday service, I knew I had come to the end of my search. I had found the truth! I gave up all my former studies, including divinity school, and I have been a dedicated student of Christian Science ever since.

The next day I went back to the Reading Room and asked how I could become a Christian Science practitioner. The attendant handed me a copy of The Christian Science Journal and showed me the directory in the back, where I could look for a Christian Science teacher. 

I contacted a teacher, with whom, three months later, I took Primary class instruction, a two-week, in-depth course in Christian Science. I found this to be an authentic answer to my deepest and humblest of prayers. Since then, I have embraced Christian Science practice wholeheartedly. I have had countless healings, including of the painful and irregular menstrual periods. I have come to understand that there are no malfunctioning cycles or irregularities because God is All and controls all. God made me—and everyone—perfect in His image and likeness.

I am so grateful for my journey, which led me to Christian Science and to a greater understanding of and love for God and Christ Jesus. I am also grateful for Mrs. Eddy and for my dear Christian Science teacher. 

In a world where I felt out of place and had just about given up hope, I discovered that there are seekers and thinkers just like me everywhere, and we are united by our prayers. It took much searching, questioning, and learning to get me here, but nothing equals the peace, love, harmony, and satisfaction I have found.