Article February 16, 1957 Issue

LIFE UNAFRAID

HELEN OAKLEY ROCKHOLD

Ringing through the Old and the New Testament are these words of confidence, courage, and comfort: "Fear not" and "Be not afraid," and other similar messages of assurance. Mary Baker Eddy evidently felt this counsel to be of such great importance that she stated emphatically and briefly in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 410), "Christian scientific practice begins with Christ's keynote of harmony, 'Be not afraid!'"

Students of Christian Science realize the importance of overcoming apprehension, anxiety, and all devastating phases of fear. But to maintain a state of calm trust, of complete fearlessness, takes vigilance and constant acknowledgment of the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. We must study and pray to increase our understanding of the allness of God, good, and the consequent unreality of anything that is unlike God.

If we identify ourselves as mortals, mentally tossed and tormented by the pictures of disease and disaster given so vividly and so graphically today through various avenues, this false identification induces fear. A mistaken concept of ourselves makes it difficult to rise above the persistent and pernicious presentations of physical causes, symptoms, and pictures of disease.

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