Article October 1, 1990 Issue

Understanding Life—a first footstep

To say life is eternal isn't just a hope. It can be proved now as we understand that Life is God.

Sam L. Hornbeak

February 1944. A testing time. Facing the start of my combat missions, I knew I could become overwhelmed by the fear of death or I could stand on what I had learned up to that point in Christian Science of the spiritual fact that Life is God. A conviction of the total reality of God, our ever-present Father and Mother, impelled me to cast my lot with Life.

I grabbed hold of strong, favorite Bible passages such as the 91st Psalm. I gained assurance from the words "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." The psalm adds, "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday." During the ensuing months, when confronted with near-panic thoughts of impending danger, I reached out with all my heart, acknowledging the constant presence and protecting power of God. This provided substantial hope, as well as safety.

Looking back now, I realize that I was barely in the kindergarten of discovering what Life really is. But what I had learned brought a considerable easing of the fear. I had taken a first step toward the conviction that life really is eternal. I had hope! Today, while recognizing that I still have a long road ahead to understand fully that Life is God and that I am immortal because man's true being is the reflection of God, I can, with utmost humility, see how the comfort and hope gained during those war days gradually evolved into a deepened understanding and conviction that life is of God, not matter. This understanding came about through much prayer, inspiration, and an awakening to the deep significance of Christ Jesus' teachings. It came through endeavoring to follow the Master's example, which brings spiritual healing and regeneration.

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