Article March 13, 1978 Issue

Jumping with joy

RICHARD A. PEARSON

To gain a fuller understanding of God, which frees from limitation and fear, one must undertake a deep, serious study of Christian Science. But this need not be a tedious experience, nor need our learning be confined to books. Every activity in our lives can be used to point the way, increasing our comprehension of Truth by providing wonderful opportunities for practicing what we have learned. In using Christian Science to help me in the exacting, competitive sport of free-fall parachuting, I've also found that many of my skydiving experiences are analogous to my demonstration of Science, showing me how to apply its rules more effectively.

One thing that may confront a parachutist is fear. He must overcome this fear quickly, or it will overcome him. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "We should master fear, instead of cultivating it."^{Science and Health, p. 197;} We cultivate fear and cause it to grow by seeing a reason for it; by accepting fear as our own, calling it "my" fear; by magnifying it; and by seeing it in others.

Fear does not belong to any of us, because it does not belong to God, infinite Love, whose reflection and exact image we in reality are. So you can start overcoming fear by disowning it and then replace it with thoughts from God. John wrote, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."^{I John 4:18;} And in Psalms we read, "In thy presence is fulness of joy."^{Ps. 16:11;} When attacked by fear, I remember these two quotations and try to replace the fear with love and joy.