Am I fit enough?

This is a question many people ask themselves. Armchair viewers and sports spectators alike are exhilarated by watching world athletes smash record after record—achieving what would seem to be the impossible. Much importance is attributed to physical fitness, and we are led to believe that if only our own bodies were as supple as those of the superstars we admire, our futures might be brighter and life would be more rewarding.

But is physical fitness enough? It is common sense to most of us to take natural exercise and follow a normal diet. However, no matter how fit and responsive our bodies may become, our minds may still remain apathetic and lazy. In today's demanding society there is a need for the mentally fit—for the thinker who is mentally alert enough to deal with fear and modern-day stresses. If as much time were given to keeping our minds exercised by well-ordered thinking based on divine Principle as is given to physical training and well-being, the world would undergo a change for the better.

Christian Science shows us how to demonstrate God's healing power. An understanding of this Science enables one to display mental fitness and to prove there are no barriers, such as age, that can prevent him from being active. His method of keeping fit is prayer, and this activity promotes health and harmony.

What we think influences our bodies and the situation surrounding us. A person who harbors depressed thoughts is far more susceptible to a discordant bodily condition than one whose thoughts are uplifted in an expectation of good. Our mental attitude affects everything we do. How important, then, to fill our thought with the true understanding of the allness of God, good, rather than with a negative approach of uncertainty and fear.

At the start of the day we are wise to go through quite a rigorous mental limbering up. This stands us in good stead for the daily challenges that may lie ahead. We may begin by filling our thought with the truth of God and man. Mrs. Eddy presented to the world a revolutionary concept of God in Science and Health, and it is from the basis of this new understanding that Christian Science teaches us to pray. One definition reads as follows: "God. The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence." ^{Science and Health, p. 587;}

Man is the expression, or idea, of the Father-Mother God. The first account of creation in Genesis reads, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." It continues, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." ^{Gen. 1:27,31:}

When these spiritual facts are understood, a firm foundation of good has been established in thought, and one can feel confident in tackling mentally—through Christianly scientific prayer—the problems that beset mankind.

A much quoted saying of Christ Jesus' is, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ^{John 8:32:} Christian Science teaches that the truth Jesus referred to was perfect God and perfect man, and that the practical application of this idea solves problems. Some people may be inclined to think that Christian Scientists are living in "cuckoo-land," holding this view of God and man when all around is seeming chaos and human misery. But isn't this appearance of misery proof that enlightened thought is needed? The chaos and misery of human existence will persist until we individually bring order and harmony into our lives by changing the basis from which we live, namely our thought. For what do we achieve by holding an imperfect sense of God and man? Mrs. Eddy writes: "Do you not hear from all mankind of the imperfect model? The world is holding it before your gaze continually. The result is that you are liable to follow those lower patterns, limit your life-work, and adopt into your experience the angular outline and deformity of matter models." And she continues, "To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way." ^{Science and Health, p. 248.}

The scientific mental worker is therefore not striving to obtain an improved physique but a happier, healthier attitude based on and resulting from spiritual truth—an attitude that will bless him and those around him. The results of his daily "exercise" are manifold: Christian Science enables him to be calm in time of crisis; to disown bad temper; to refuse to let criticism and jealousy sway his judgment. A deep and developing love for his fellowman makes him a more conscientious worker, a more thoughtful boss, a more understanding parent, a more loving partner. Whatever he does, if his thoughts are God-based, good is the underlying factor.

Christian Science teaches us to apply the law of God in our daily lives, as Jesus did. This law is put into action through our prayers. In school a student is taught to apply the laws of mathematics. If the result is incorrect, mathematical law is not at fault, only the student's application of it. So with Christian Science: the law of God is never at fault, but our application of it may be. Jesus was able to demonstrate the readiness of God's law to overcome all manner of sickness, sin, lack, and even death. Mrs. Eddy discovered in this age the ever-availability of God's law, and now students of Christian Science the world over can rely solely upon God's law to solve their difficulties.

After a morning warm-up through prayer, I felt the support of the resulting mental fitness when challenged with what seemed to be an alarming situation.

Two large dogs jumped over the hedge at the side of the road straight in front of my car as I was driving through a village with a friend. One dog escaped; the other lay underneath the vehicle trapped and yelping. I felt no sense of panic and was quickly able to affirm that God, being all-good, could not create accident and that no matter what the scene seemed to be telling me, only good was going on.

My passenger said help would have to be found if the animal was to be freed, and that I should go and find help immediately. I asked some children, playing across the road, whether they knew who the animal's owner might be. They said they knew, but refused to go and fetch him. To my astonishment nobody could be found who would come to my assistance.

It was with greater conviction than ever that I turned to God, knowing that He was the only help I needed. With renewed confidence and trust in an all-loving God, I knelt down and spoke comfortingly to the dog, voicing some of the truths that came to me of the present operation of God's law of harmony. He lay still for a moment and then, with a tremendous jerk, he freed himself and ran off down the road. With great rejoicing we drove on our way. My passenger, who was not a Christian Scientist, was particularly impressed by the effect of truth on what had seemed a distressing situation. She commented on the feeling of calm that had been communicated to her.

The next time we watch the record-breakers out on the track, let's give a thought to how spiritually alert and mentally fit we are. Evil and discord dissolve when challenged by the power of God. Let's resolve to keep a little fitter and always be alert enough to apply God's law.