In the mid-1980s, while attempting to renew my Australian passport, I was deprived of my Australian citizenship and, therefore, my passport. I was living in South Africa at the time, and the consular officer stated that I had never been registered as an Australian and had no right to citizenship. My father was sure I had been registered, but the officer refused to investigate our claim.

I was shocked to find myself stateless. Eighteen months later, when I needed a passport to travel overseas to take Christian Science class instruction, I took out South African citizenship. After marrying and pursuing graduate study in the United States, my husband and I wished to return to Australia. I remained convinced in my heart that I truly was an Australian citizen. We decided to apply for Australian residency through the points system (a skill-based application test) and moved to England (my husband is British) to embark on the lengthy application process.

While thinking about my situation at this point, I was directed to Mary Baker Eddy's statement "One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself;' annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 340).

Before filling out the residency application in London, I felt impelled to retell my story of loss of citizenship. Fax communication with Canberra confirmed that my father had registered me as a citizen. Within three months my rightful citizenship was returned to me, and shortly after that my husband and I flew into Australia with our young son.

I was overjoyed at regaining my original status. In order to complete various documents, however, and for my own understanding, I needed to know what the official record stated. Again I turned to the statement by Mrs. Eddy mentioned earlier, establishing in my thought that there could be no conflict, no neglect, and no prejudice in the realm of "one infinite God, good." I wrote confidently and candidly to the Minister for Immigration, requesting clarification and informing of the time, effort, and money I had spent in correcting their error. I received an expression of gratitude for bringing this matter to their attention, a full explanation, a gracious apology, and an offer of financial compensation. Again I was overjoyed.

I set about composing a list of costs I had incurred. Well, the list grew long, and I began to feel hurt and angry. I finished the list, sealed and stamped the envelop, but could not send it. I felt deeply that this was not Christian. I thought the Lord's Prayer, which includes "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matt. 6:12). It was quite a struggle for me, as I could certainly make use of a substantial sum of money, and it seemed just for the Ministry to compensate me. As I prayed for divine guidance, the Golden Rule and the importance of forgiveness to the Christian way of life kept surfacing in my thinking. I was directed to Christ Jesus' words "Thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:14).

I felt I must be obedient to these messages from God. Also, I realized that if I wished to understand my being as under God's government, it would be inconsistent then to look also to human government, either for my status or security. A great weight was lifted from my thinking and I was able, without any feeling of regret, to reply to the Minister's office that I did not wish to claim compensation from their department, but was grateful to receive their offer and their sincere apology for what had occurred.

I am very grateful to be learning in Christian Science that God is the only source of wisdom and might.

Abigail Mathieson Trout
Ashburton, Victoria, Australia