Realizing that I was harboring many unnecessary fears, I determined to find out what fear is and how to rid myself of this insidious error. It took no time at all to see that I needed to dwell not on what fear is but what it is not.

Fear can only jab at the mortal personality—the man who is the counterfeit of God's likeness. Fear is not a separator; it cannot in reality separate man from God, man from harmony, or man from the ever-presence of Love. Fear is not a reality but a disturbing belief—an illusion, a delusive tempter.

One day when airing my fear of flying, I received this response from my friend: "Flying is nothing to fear, but driving on a freeway? Well, that's different!" Fear indeed appears in many disguises, all of them to be relinquished as aggressive suggestion. In the study of Christian Science we discover that there is no fear in the atmosphere of divine Love; Love excludes fear.

Mrs. Eddy reassures us with the biblical statement, "The Apostle John says: 'There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out fear. . . . He that feareth is not made perfect in Love.' " And she continues, "Here is a definite and inspired proclamation of Christian Science."^{Science and Health, p. 410;}

My assignment, then, was to love more. It was to proclaim myself at one with God and refuse to see myself as a puppet to be manipulated by trepidation.

The realization that God is all power destroys deceptive fears. These, in reality, are nothing. Love is all-presence. A mirage is an excellent example of nothing that appears to be something; confronted head on, it disappears. Fear, too, is a mirage—first to be detected and then relinquished. How do we let go of fear? Mrs. Eddy makes this statement: "Nothing but the power of Truth can prevent the fear of error, and prove man's dominion over error."^{ibid., p. 380;}

We overcome fear by being lifted above the false belief of separation from God, good. If disturbed by the actions of others, we can determine to know that each individual in God's creation is moving in harmony. If the world seems collapsing around us, we can know that in truth we live in a God-endowed, God-governed, law-abiding universe. We can look about us and behold good.

It's difficult to picture Christ Jesus being fearful of physical evidence. As brought out in his healings, he knew the foundation of fear to be only an ignorance of God as the one and only power. We read the Bible's account of Jesus in a ship: "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full." Certainly a setting for fear and anguish! But Jesus "rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still."^{Mark 4:37, 39.}

Do our fears—whatever their object—toss us about on a sea of material beliefs? We might emphatically question ourselves at this point: "Do I believe God expresses perfection throughout His creation, or don't I?" The answer determines the foundation on which we are building. Letting Christ, Truth, operate in our lives as a purifying, vitalizing, harmonizing influence opens the way for a life without fear or doubt. Then we begin to understand that all is governed by divine Principle, the intelligence controlling not only ourselves but our neighbors, our government, our universe.

Through the study of Christian Science we become aware of an underlying law—the law of God. We understand this law as we progress, and cherish its expression of divine intelligence and its dominion. Nowhere within this law can be found an element of fear. There is no law to substantiate fear. We do not have to be saved from fear, only from the false belief that there is something to fear.

The truths I was discovering brought peace. I knew now how to still my doubts. I could rebuke the waves of anxiety. I had begun to master fear, proving in its place the presence of divine power and the precious love of God.