I learned about God’s incredible love

​HOW I FOUND CHRISTIAN SCIENCE | DECEMBER 30, 2024 ISSUE – Vienna McMurtry

Early in my college years, I gave music lessons to a little boy, and as I got to know his family, I learned that they were Christian Scientists.
Since my mid-teens, I had been dissatisfied and uncomfortable with the faith I had grown up in. I was deeply afraid of God and felt unworthy to be in His presence, and those feelings just didn’t seem right to me. However, because these and other mistaken beliefs about God were so ingrained in me, when I heard that my new friends were Christian Scientists, I felt I needed to save their souls from what I then believed would surely be eternal damnation.

The little boy’s mother and I met many times. During each of our get-togethers, she would patiently and lovingly respond to the viewpoints put forth by my “soul-saving” pamphlets and explain Christian Science insights into such concepts as sin and salvation. During our talks, I had numerous “aha” moments. In short, I was learning of God’s incredible love and amazing grace. And I really wanted to learn more. 

I began to study Christian Science, and I never looked back. I recall that as I read the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, I seemed to be stopping to look up the meaning of every other word. It was challenging, but I persisted because I knew from my friend’s explanations that the truth I was looking for was in that book.
Within a year or so, I joined The Mother Church—The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston—and my friend and I went to Boston for the church’s Annual Meeting. Wow, was that exciting! 
With college and work schedules, I was not able to attend my local branch Church of Christ, Scientist, regularly, but I wanted to be an active member. A few years later things changed, and I joined that branch church. 
At about the same time, I took Christian Science Primary class instruction, and it became clear to me that at some point I would begin accepting requests from others for prayer. I loved Christian Science and what I was learning. I felt like a sponge just soaking up as much as possible, and I wanted to share that with others and help them to have healing and permanent good in their lives. I served for a while as an institutional chaplain, and a few years later went into the public healing practice of Christian Science.
In recent years, thinking back, I can see that God always loved me and was always taking care of me and directing my life. For example, years before this, as a young child I had sat on many parade routes waiting for a particular band to pass by. That kindled my desire to play music, and later I was able to play in that same band and teach others. 
Also, as a member of the band, I felt valued, appreciated, respected, nurtured, and loved. This was an important step in recognizing that I am good and worthy. My new view of myself prepared me for the reception of Christian Science, which gave me an even clearer understanding of myself as our divine Father’s loved child. Praise God!