Article August 9, 2010 Issue

Game on, fear off

BY BRAD WARRICK

We all have to face a dragon of one kind or another in our lives. To me, dragon is just another word for fear, and I've found that eliminating fear is the fundamental key in any healing experience. Fear tries to draw us away from our spiritual freedom and dominion, given to us by God. In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy talked about eliminating fear, an illusion at its core, by advising, "Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious—as Life eternally is—can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not" (p. 495).

I'm a high school football coach at a school for Christian Scientists. And last fall, our team had a great challenge in facing fear. The year before, we'd played a team (whose mascot is coincidently the Dragons!) that was two size classifications higher than us, had more than double our team numbers, and outweighed us by over 100 pounds per player on the line of scrimmage. They'd easily beaten us before by over three touchdowns, and we all were looking for ways not to have to play them again. But we'd signed a two-year contract and had to meet our obligation.

The week before the game, our team prepared well physically and mentally to face this tough opponent. Our mental preparation always includes prayer and metaphysical discussions before each game. This preparation is not to ensure a win on the scoreboard but instead to establish that "the objects we pursue and the spirit we manifest reveal our standpoint, and show what we are winning" (Science and Health, p. 239).