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.

Riding up n a small plane for my fifth jump, I was battling an overwhelming anxiety that had grown with each succeeding jump. Crouched in the open door of the plane, watching the ground thousands of feet below, I heard the suggestions that mortal mind—the pseudo mind of mortals—was trying pretty successfully to get me to accept: "You could get a malfunction on this jump." "You are too old for this sport." "You will never make it out of the door."

I prayed to feel release from these fears and claimed the joy of God's presence. I thanked God for the beauty of cloud and sky I saw all around me. But my efforts to feel joyful were without much success. The fear and negative suggestions persisted. "Tell them you can't jump," fear said. "They won't mind." Suddenly I saw the strained face of another student jumper behind me. It was his fifth jump, too, and like me he was obviously struggling with fear. I wanted so much to help him. As I prayed the thought came, Help him; he needs it. I turned to him and laughed with the inspiration of spontaneous joy. At once he laughed too, and the fear dissolved for both of us. That jump was one of our happiest. Neither of us ever forgot it nor the lesson we learned from it.

I was attacked by fear on many subsequent jumps. Sometimes this was because I had skimped my prayerful preparation or had failed to detect and reject the fear, which would slyly assume different forms. Gradually I learned that in demonstrating Science, as in everything else, practice makes perfect.

Science and Health declares, "We must recollect that Truth is demonstrable when understood, and that good is not understood until demonstrated." ^{Science and Health, p. 323;} Whatever your sport or activity, if fear tries to limit you, look around you and see in what way you can express more love and joy. Assured of divine Love's allness and omnipresence, you will overcome and progress.

The helpful analogies that can be drawn between parachuting and the practice of Christian Science are many. When a parachutist jumps from a plane in flight, he must quickly assume a stable position during the free fall or he will tumble down out of control and may become entangled in his parachute when it opens. He assumes this stable position by spreading out his arms and legs and looking up. Similarly, Christian Scientists must demonstrate spiritual stability and strength by looking up, by spiritually elevating thought instead of looking down at the material view, and by opening their hearts wide and embracing all mankind in their love.

In free fall, as your speed builds up to a terminal velocity of one hundred twenty miles per hour, the air roars past you, your sleeves flutter, and every loose strap on your harness cracks and whips at you until the noise becomes loud and menacing. But the parachutist must disregard all this and refuse to feel frightened, maintaining his stable position. As Christian Scientists we also must disregard the sometimes deafening clamor of the material senses and maintain out stability and fearless calm, confident in the training we have received through study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings and sure of our equipment, our knowledge of the ever–active power of God.

Christ Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock." ^{Luke 12:32;} And Mrs. Eddy writes of those who love God: "...He has called His own, armed them, equipped them, and furnished them defenses impregnable. Their God will not let them be lost; and if they fall they shall rise again, stronger than before the stumble." She continues further on, "The best lesson of their lives is gained by crossing swords with temptation, with fear and the besetments of evil; insomuch as they thereby have tried their strength and proven it; insomuch as they have found their strength made perfect in weakness, and their fear is self-immolated." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 10;}

When a parachutist pulls the rip cord, nothing apparent happens for three or four long seconds. But as he continues to hurtle toward the earth unchecked, he must maintain his stable position and trustingly wait while his parachute unfolds and develops to the point where it can support him. When we bring God's power to bear on a difficulty by acknowledging His truth, often there is a pause before we see evidence that the situation is improving and the threat disappearing. During this time we can hold our position with confidence, knowing that the healing is unfolding.

In the last few feet of a parachute descent, the earth seems to rush up at you with sudden acceleration, and it looks as if you will hit it with considerable force. In time I learned that this is an illusion and that the speed of descent does not increase at all. Provided I disregarded this illusion, I always landed safely. After prayerful work in Christian Science the physical evidence of a discordant condition may sometimes seem even more aggressive, but this, like the seeming buildup of a parachutist's approach speed as he is about to land, is only illusion. So, hang in there, fearlessly and joyfully, and remember the Psalmist's comforting assurance: "He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." ^{Ps. 91:11, 12.} And happy landings!