"I Will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth" (Isa. 43:6). These words from the Bible were for so long set deep in my heart, with lingering hope. Words fall short of expression when I recount God's hand in bringing me to Christian Science.

My parents, each being of a different religious denomination, always seemed to be in conflict over their beliefs. In my youth they would find me sitting intermittently in the congregations of different sects, searching for understanding. This left me bewildered, and sometimes overcome with a fear so great that temporary paralysis would set in. This eventually took its toll on me mentally and physically. Through all this I was still attempting to find answers to my questions by reading the Bible, questioning the clergy, praying in agony and tears, and begging God to take me home to Him.

Because I'd been under the care of a doctor for years, he knew of my struggle with what I then called "the devil." He once asked me, in an attempt to humor me, if the devil was really red, with a long tail, holding a pitchfork. My fear was so overwhelming that he recognized the seriousness of the situation. I told him I thought I had been to every church in that town, and many others elsewhere, but still didn't have any answers.

I had been through two surgeries, and had taken much medication to help relieve a female disorder involving a diagnosed deficiency in my body. Then I was told that I would have to undergo another surgery. At this point I could hardly get around. Being advised that the medical tests didn't look very promising, I said despondently that if I had to leave this world, I'd like to find some answers about God first. My doctor replied that unfortunately the churches didn't have all the answers, but he suggested I go home and make my home my church.

I did just that. Alone with God, I silently prayed to Him in the only way I knew how, desperately desiring spiritual understanding. Suddenly I felt very calm and peaceful. I felt absolutely, without a doubt, that God was right there with me, that He was well and so was I.

I went to the sink and dumped all the medication down the drain. I went to the door, walking on air I believe, singing in my heart. I had been healed. I walked three blocks to town, and as I came upon an antique store, I thought to step inside for a few minutes. Without any conscious effort, I walked over to a table and picked up older copies of Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy and the Christian Science Hymnal. Then I went directly back home, holding these two books snugly to me, as though to be sure no one could snatch them from me. It was as though I intuitively knew they were very special, and right for me to have in my possession.

Immediately I began reading the textbook, at about four o'clock in the afternoon. I will never forget the hope that soared through me as I read from the chapter "Prayer," "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love" (p. 1). Well, spiritual understanding was certainly what I yearned for. I knew I must keep reading.

It was well after midnight when I jumped up, ran to the door, opened it, and shouted, "I've found the truth!" I felt I wanted the whole world to share in this knowing. The next time my doctor saw me, he confirmed in amazement that I had been completely healed of the illness that had threatened my life.

This began my journey home, from what had seemed the farthest end of the earth. Christian Science so fills my heart with the certainty that anyone, even with the most urgent of needs, can find total deliverance in God's law of love, through the understanding gained by studying the Bible and the wonderful works of Mrs. Eddy, whose dedicated life gave us this revelation to build upon.

Delores F. Bohling
Auburn, Nebraska