Peace, grace, coordination—athletics bring the opportunity to exercise man's spiritual qualities as God's child. Because man, as God's effortless expression, does exercise true strength without hint of depletion, we need never doubt God's power to uplift, propel, and energize our every action.

Sometimes the fear comes that we will run out of strength, or that we are basically awkward. These suggestions are not legitimate, and we do not have to accept them. They are distractions, false fears, which would needlessly hamper our abilities. Mrs. Eddy states: "We cannot fathom the nature and quality of God's creation by diving into the shallows of mortal belief. We must reverse our feeble flutterings—our efforts to find life and truth in matter—and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the Godlike man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being." ^{Science and Health, p. 262;}

Christian Science urges us to look to the immortal sense of being for life, leaving material weakness and weariness behind. This process of forsaking the physical for the spiritual is an exchange process. As we accept the infinite ability that God is expressing through man, we can exchange stagnation for growth, weakness for strength, and boredom for creativity. If this seems difficult, we can recall that good is the only real attraction as well as the only impelling power. When we understand that God wants what is best for us, we will learn to take Christ Jesus' way of wanting His will to be done. And we will look for the positive value in every experience we encounter.

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." ^{Ps. 139:7-10;} There is no place on earth where God's presence is not felt.

I once became resentful when I failed a physical education swimming test and had to enroll in a beginner's class. This course demanded more than I was physically capable of. Everyone else was ahead of me. I was not willing to accept, at first, the radical change of thought I needed. I was tempted to drop the class until later. Realizing that this would solve nothing, I went to God in prayer for strength to fulfill my responsibility.

A feeling of confidence came over me when I recalled what Mrs. Eddy says about duty: "Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself." ^{Science and Health, p. 385.} I had the strong conviction that this challenge was just an opportunity for growth. Whenever I was tempted to consider the material situation, I clung instead to the spiritual fact. I began to acknowledge the spiritual qualities I reflected from God, such as strength, peace, perfection.

Gradually my endurance began to increase. Fear disappeared, and a great sense of love for the teacher and students prevailed. Each time I went to practice I was motivated by the desire to serve God and exercise the dominion He gives to all.

The lesson I learned from this was a very important one. I realized what weighed me down as I tried to swim was the burdensome belief that I was only a mortal. I was trying to obey both God's law and the supposed law of matter. Once I realized my nature as divine Life's effortless expression, I was able to stop struggling and be at peace. Swimming was much easier.

The spiritual kingdom where we five and move as God's reflection is a peaceable kingdom. We can prove this whether we are on the tennis court, golf course, or in the swimming pool. Sustained by the Father, man's legitimate condition is peaceful and powerful. When we understand this, we will not allow negative conditions to so easily attach themselves to the persons, places, or events in our experience.

Make sure you are not carrying around any belief that you live on your own, without God's help. Man's being, your real being, is reflection, calm and clear like the reflection on the surface of a lake. We need not struggle to exist; we already are.