Healing of Deception in Business

In Christian Science, we learn that "Trials are proofs of God's care," as Mary Baker Eddy wrote on page 66 of her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Without the proof borne out in our experience, we are untried, untested; while every healing proof makes Truth nearer and dearer to us. Thus we endure those experiences that stretch us, and find our inherent spiritual resilience, firmness, and tone in exercising our spiritual senses in scientific prayer. Over a hundred thousand dollars seemed to be at risk in this business venture...

In 1994, I invested a large sum for exclusive distributorship in my home state of an electrical product claimed to save electricity consumed by the refrigerator. I sold my home to the manufacturer in order to expedite the move back to my home state, an ocean away, and engaged a Christian Science Practitioner to prayerfully support this big move. The result of the Christian Science Practitioner's prayer, however, quickly revealed another direction to be taken. The chief engineer of the company informed my husband and me the evening before departure that the principal of the company was a very dishonest man and was not to be trusted. Furthermore, he asserted that there were deficiencies in the product itself, including the danger of fire hazards. My husband and I decided not to make the move, after all.

I didn't totally accept the unwelcomed advice, and continued to be lured to put up additional funds. Finally, I reached a point a few months later, when the evidence had gathered sufficiently to call in lawyers.

My husband's good friend is an electrical engineer and a manufacturer of world renown. He tested the product. "Snake oil" is what he had to say about the whole thing. He recommended the lawyers and alerted Underwriters Laboratories about the scam, because the product bore the UL seal fraudently. Meanwhile, the State Attorney General had received complaints from elsewhere around the country, and my lawyers felt we needed to act quickly to settle.

Throughout the whole experience, I was utilizing the truths about God and man that I had already learned, and new lessons as well, in my study of this Science of the Christ. I knew that I must love the real, fundamental nature of man, which is spiritual and good, and refuse to believe the lie that man can be sinful. Mrs. Eddy teaches that "we must deny sin and plead God's allness." (Science and Health, page 15) This also meant that I had to know honesty as the reality, despite the material evidences of dishonesty.

The final result was a completely satisfactory restoration of funds, enough to put down for the purchase of a new home, and to support us for another year or two. This was another proof, leading me step by step to the deeper trust in God necessary for spiritual growth, which is the true life extension.