Article November 18, 2002 Issue

6 stories of protection in times of danger

Reported by Warren Bolon Sentinel staff

Ron Ballard's comment stopped me in my tracks . Writing in the Sentinel's November 4, 2002, issue ("Faith in troubled economic times"), he observed that "no one wants to be liable to attack, but maybe what we should get used to is relying on something deeper in life than mere human ability and intellect. Maybe we could turn these feelings around and recognize that we should be 'vulnerable' to divine intelligence and control." That idea took me to a new place as I thought about the Washington, D.C., sniper and other ongoing terror situations—that we are all beneficially vulnerable to God, even though at times we may feel vulnerable to danger.

In a world where muscular aggression is often looked to first and meekness last, could the practice of spiritual vulnerability actually be a reliable means of avoiding harm?

I contacted people around the world who have prayed their way to safety in troubled times. I asked them, "What insights can you offer about breaking through the fear that tends to paralyze thought and action?" All six are Christian Science healers, and some also teach and lecture on healing. First, their stories—and following each account, a sample of the ideas they're praying with these days.

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