Unemployment seems a fact for many in today's world. But through prayer it can be seen as an opportunity for spiritual growth. Let me tell you of an experience I had.

I was suddenly discharged from a well-paying job as a salesman. Reporting to my office on a Saturday morning, I was told my services were terminated, then and there. I had no prospects of obtaining another job. At that time I was a very new student of Christian Science, so this was a real challenge. I had memorized the spiritual interpretation of the twenty-third Psalm from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. It begins (p. 578), "[Divine love] is my shepherd; I shall not want." In applying this truth to my present situation, I stated it thus: "Divine Love is my employer; I shall not fear nor want." I knew that a shepherd is one who leads, guides, and protects. My Shepherd was divine Love, God, and I could rely implicitly on Him to meet my every need. This allayed all fear.

I gathered up my belongings and left the office, feeling deeply grateful that I was learning more about how to practice Christian Science and that I was willing to trust God. Time and again I reminded myself, "Divine Love is my employer; I shall not want." Then I visited a Christian Science practitioner. Heretofore I had frequently visited this practitioner to inquire about Christian Science. Now I asked him to pray for me. His reply was, in essence, I cannot pray for you to get a specific job, but I can pray to know that you are a son of God—not material but spiritual—and therefore always in your right place, always expressing Him, always employed. He explained further that my willingness to trust God could only result in good. Then he quoted a verse from the Bible (II Kings 25:30): "His allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life." He said, "God is your King, your employer."

The Bible was a constant help. The commandment given us by Christ Jesus (Mark 12:31), "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," was brought to my attention, and I was admonished to obey it. Thereafter every effort was made to see my former employer as my neighbor—honestly to love him. There was a temptation to be resentful; but this was quickly replaced with love, for I knew that, in reality, this man was a child of God, divine Love, and therefore he was loving and I could love him.

Confident that I could rely wholly upon God to show me whatever steps were necessary, I went home. Within a short time a friend phoned, and during our conversation I told him what had happened at work. He immediately invited me to go with him to a distant city where he had some business to transact. He said that I could be his guest if I would do the driving. I accepted his offer. Later I called the practitioner, who rejoiced with me in this evidence of God's love and urged me to hold steadfastly to the truths I had learned in Christian Science. We made the trip. While my friend attended to his business, I studied the Bible Lesson outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly and made frequent visits to a Christian Science Reading Room to read articles from The Christian Science Journal and the Sentinel on "employment" and "place." I also continued to learn more of God as my Father-Mother, my Shepherd.

In two weeks we returned home. Upon our arrival, a friend told me that my former employer had been calling and wanted me to contact him. This was done, and my former employer informed me that he had highly recommended me to another organization that had an opening in a position for which he felt I was very qualified. Contact was made, and an interview arranged. The interview went so satisfactorily that I was asked to start work immediately. I remained with this organization, working in different capacities, for nearly a quarter of a century.

My study and application of Christian Science, and my sincere willingness to rely wholly on God for guidance and direction, brought proof that God is man's Shepherd and that He supplies our every need.

Many times during the intervening years this statement from Isaiah has come to me (65:24): "It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." The children of divine Love, God, are always employed in expressing Him, and this is true employment.

As a result of this experience I grew in my understanding of God. I also became a more consecrated worker in my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, and more obedient to the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy.

Truly, the blessings, the joys, the spiritual progress, that are possible in Christian Science are unlimited.

GREGORY S. VOJAE St. Petersburg, Florida