A Very small boy had a great fear of dogs. After he had glimpsed a little of what Christian Science teaches about God as a God of love who is man's Father-Mother, ever near and always ready to care for him he was confronted with an opportunity to prove that this is true. The largest dog he had ever seen came running toward him at a lively pace. At first the boy was terror-stricken; then quickly he took a firm stand and declared with finality, "God is here; I am not afraid."

The dog came bounding up to him, and the little fellow put out his hand and touched his head. They were friends at once. He had, in a simple way, proved a great truth. The child heart had reached out to divine Love for protection, and instantly had come the comforting assurance that he was already in Love's tender care. Nothing had to happen. He had only to realize God's very presence with him there. Once more the beautiful promise in Isaiah was fulfilled (65: 24). "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."

A student of Christian Science who witnessed this little scene was called upon later to help a friend who was confronted with an alarming physical problem. When the error seemed almost overwhelming, she suddenly recalled the experience of the little boy and the big dog. With great joy and a new realization of freedom, she too took her stand and declared with confidence, "God is here: I am not afraid." The problem that had seemed so tremendous disappeared before the clear declaration of truth, and the friend was free.

The student was humbly aware that the truth of the statement on page 365 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy had again been proved: "If the Scientist reaches his patient through divine Love, the healing work will be accomplished at one visit, and the disease will vanish into its native nothingness like dew before the morning sunshine." Her heart was filled with gratitude that the very presence of God had been realized.

What joy it is to know that dark shallows of fear, regardless of their form, cannot remain with the coming of the light of Truth! Light and darkness do not dwell together. Where light is, darkness is not; so where the presence of God, good, is, error is not. Where God is, health is, and disease is not. Where God is, right there abundant good is, and lack is not. When we are spiritually aware of these truths, we are free from the claims, impositions, and dictations of error in its myriad forms.

With what assurance have many of our Bible heroes proved the great fact of God's nearness and readiness to help in times of dire need! Many of these victories, which demonstrate the supremacy of Spirit over material ultimatums, are called miracles. But we learn in Christian Science (ibid., p. 134), "A miracle fulfils God's law, but does not violate that law."

Jesus, the master Christian, demonstrated beyond question dominion over every form of evil. This mastery came through his awareness of the law of God and his faithful obedience to it. He maintained his at-one-ment with divine Love throughout every challenging experience and temptation and abode in the realization (John 10:30), "I and my Father are one."

The Hebrew youths were safe in the flaming furnace because they had full confidence that God was with them. So sure were they of divine Love's presence that no fire of fear could touch them. They were faithful to their God. The Love that surrounded them was a sacred enfoldment unseen by the self-assertive forces of evil. It carried with it its own protection.

Christian Science has brought to the world the consciousness that the same power and the same law of God that were here centuries ago are here for each one of us today. They were here for the Bible heroes; they were here for the little boy; they are here for us. Whatever the circumstances, whatever the need, the realization that God is here and that His law is in uninterrupted operation gives us full confidence that the right solution to any problem is at hand.

We gain an understanding of this law and learn; how to apply it through deep study of the Bible, illumined by Mrs. Eddy's writings. The Scriptures and our Leader's teachings are storehouses of spiritual truth equipping us to meet every situation. When Truth's messages are prayerfully sought, and applied with consecration and conviction, they lead us firmly and tenderly out of error's bondage, whether it be physical, moral, or financial.

Through Christian Science we learn that error, disease, lack are untrue, unreal, because they are not from God. Thus we are freed from them. When we see that error exists only as belief, it is short-lived even as belief. What if the condition to be overcome is called incurable, insurmountable, fatal; shall we believe this? Who names it so? Error. What silences its vicious claims? The truth about it.

When we are convinced that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, supreme, we realize that there is no room for a competing, fearsome, opposing power that is at work to destroy. We see a lie for what it claims to be, and the truth for what it actually is. Only the right is real. "The Lord he is God; there is none else beside him" (Deut. 4: 35). When we declare with conviction based on understanding, "God is here; I am not afraid," we have taken our stand on the right side. This stand has no partnership with self-will or human stubbornness. It is born of Principle and is a wholehearted, unconditional surrender to Truth, which opens our consciousness to abundant good.

Our much-loved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who followed reverently in the steps of the Master, lived very close to God. She knew and proved Him to be ever near. How tender and trusting are her sacred words in the brief poem on the quotation page at the beginning of Science and Health (p. iii):

Each one of us who opens wide the door of consciousness with assurance that God, divine Love, is already here receives with joy the tender conviction that His children are forever dear.