Article January 16, 2012 Issue

'Let's go!'

By Penelope Ducharme Darling

Haven’t we all, at some time, felt a special joy —felt so free and fearless! Many things trigger this joyous sense in us. For me, it could be the first crocuses in spring, sometimes just peeking through the snow, or the climbing of mountain trails, especially at Colorado’s Horse Thief Gulch when the birds fly to me and pull bread crumbs from between my outstretched fingers.

We always have the God-given right and ability to experience joy, freedom from sickness or other limitations, and fearlessness. Pondering this one day, I asked myself three questions: What promotes these feelings? What seems to interfere with them? And what eliminates the interference? Through my study of Christian Science, I’ve come to realize that all good feelings are related to our nature as children of one, infinite, all-loving God.

Why do we have this right? Because in the first chapter of the book of Joshua it says: “Have not I [God] commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (verse 9).