The BA: Tell our readers about your journey coming into the practice of Christian Science nursing.

Laurel Dufton: I was teaching art. I loved it and loved working with the children. It was a great opportunity to express love and to give.

Then one day I was in the classroom. I was reading about Winslow Homer with the children and it said he got to the halfway point in his life and he knew he wasn’t happy and he had to make a change. And his age then was the same age I was. I said to myself, “Well, I know I don’t need to apply this exactly….” But I did look around and realized there was something more that I wanted to be doing.”

I had been at the Christian Science camps and just loved that atmosphere. At some of the cleanup weekends I met a couple of Christian Science nurses and the qualities they expressed, the holy reverence which was always there, I kept in my thought. It’s with me today; and words can’t express the gratitude I feel.

The BA: Were there challenges you had to meet along the way? What happened next?
LD: Having three children and coming to Boston seemed like an impossibility. My son, in his eighth grade year of school said, “What about Principia?” and I sort of threw the fliers to the side. When he asked about it three times I thought, “Oh, he’s serious about that!”

So, I came down [to the BA from Maine] for a visit. And I met [with the Director and Assistant Director of Christian Science Nurses Training] and felt pretty sure that it was the right thing.

It unfolded in the right time in the right way, including my son going to Principia. One Thanksgiving morning I was sitting in church in my usual, traditional spot and somebody said, “You should go be a Christian Science nurse.” And I thought, “One of my friends is sitting next to me.” And I turned to my side and there was nobody there on either side. And I went, “OK, I got it God!”

It’s been beyond what I ever imagined it could be. My youngest child lives with me, one son’s at Principia; and it has worked out for my oldest son to be home caring for our house. All the details for me and my family fell into place, including daycare and school for my daughter.

Christian Science nursing is a calling, and from talking with the other nurses, it doesn’t seem to me that you just decide you’re going to be a Christian Science nurse. I just let things unfold, and looked at what my priority was and that I had this love that I wanted to be able to share, and to care for my fellowman….

Click here to read the Manual By-law “Christian Science Nurse.”