Many people take for granted certain activities and skills that generally are learned during childhood. I'm thinking particularly of swimming. This sport held only terror for me until recently. Even as a small child I was afraid of water. My first swimming lessons came to no avail. And finally, I suppose in desperation, my parents rented an entire pool with a private instructor, hoping that I would learn to swim at last. But the instructor gave up on me and told my parents they might as well stop wasting their time and money, since I would never swim.
In my late teens I decided I could and must learn to swim. I thought that sheer willpower would be enough to make me successful. This time, I enrolled in group lessons, believing I'd be too embarrassed to fail in front of others. But fail I did—I quit before the lessons were complete. Of course I wanted to swim and join my friends, but it seemed my desire never exceeded my fear.
A year ago, after enrolling our infant daughter in swimming lessons, once again I felt the desire to learn to swim myself. There was a noticeable difference in my approach, however, as I wanted my understanding of Christian Science to support me. I felt if there ever was a time to prove that this Science overcomes the beliefs of failure and fear, this was it!
