Although I'd been raised as a Christian, I didn't really see Christianity as being practical. I had joined a mainline church, but I was also exploring all kinds of New Age theories and practices. It was during this time that I began to learn about Christian Science from a young couple I was working with in a musical production at my church.

Through the example of this loving couple, I became interested in learning more about their church. So my family and I began attending the local Church of Christ, Scientist, in State College, Pennsylvania. After about a year, though, I just wasn't sure that I really understood a lot of what Christian Science taught. I stopped attending, but continued to study Science and Health on my own. I had a number of healings of things such as flu, urinary tract infection, and injuries from an accident.

My turning point occurred in 1996 when I wanted to resign from my job as a music teacher so I could pursue only spiritual studies. I went to a Science and Health book talk, and that's where I heard about the personal struggles of Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science. I learned how she remained committed to her healing mission no matter what obstacles confronted her. I identified with her because I'd been trying to become a healer through my music. It seemed that Science and Health was the guidebook on how to become a healer.

I left that book talk asking myself, "Who is God?" I realized that since God was Love itself, then God was going to care for our family, even if I gave up my income and benefits by resigning from my teaching position. Later, my husband and I talked it over, and we agreed that I should resign and take an early retirement.

At that time, I decided that if I was going to rely totally on God, I wanted a "rock" to stand on. And I just intuitively knew that the church could be that rock, and that the members were the models I wanted to learn from. So, I told my family that I was going to go back to Christian Science and unite with the branch church. They began attending with me, and eventually my husband became a member, too. We both went on to unite with The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and to have class instruction in Christian Science. I am now a fulltime Christian Science practitioner.

I really don't think I could have made the spiritual progress that I have without being an active church member. I love the structure provided for in the Manual of The Mother Church. For example, I learned so much about how to bring Christian Science to the community—and how to talk about Christian Science—by being on the lecture committee of our branch church. Being a member of the worldwide Mother Church has made me feel connected to spiritual thinkers around the world who are in all stages of their own spiritual journey. I feel inspired because I know that with membership, I've made a public statement about my endorsement of the Cause of this healing Science. This identification with the Church of Christ, Scientist, is something that strengthens me daily.

Membership tangibly shows my gratitude for having found the practical answers I had always searched for. I have found that church membership gives me the opportunity to give back for all that I've received. I see Church as a gathering together of the world's citizens, all within the structure of Truth and Love, as Church is defined in Science and Health. I have always wanted to help the world, and it is obvious that by writing with others, so much more can be accomplished than what I can do on my own. I have come to view this healing mission as my life's purpose.