"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Ps. 23:4. What enabled the Psalmist to pray in this way? How can anyone say, "I will not fear, even though I know I am facing what is called death"? Isn't it natural to be afraid, since we're told that fear is a defense mechanism?
Fear may be considered a defense mechanism, but I know from my own experience that the removal of fear very definitely preserved me from serious injury in one instance, and from what all my military and civilian flight training told me would be certain death in another.
In the first instance, I was attempting to repair a portion of our home's second-story roof when it became quite obvious the roof was too slippery for me to remain on it. As I was sliding toward the edge, a healing account of a similar experience told by a Christian Science lecturer came vividly to mind, calming my thought and assuring me of God's loving care and of my safety. I knew immediately that I must avoid becoming entangled in the ladder while using it to break my fall. Next, I knew that the spiritual truth which had protected the lecturer's husband—that nothing could be out of control in omnipotent Mind's universe— was just as applicable in my circumstance. My obedience and receptivity to God's care gave me a solution to my immediate problem, and the realization that I was not out of control, regardless of appearances, removed all fear, and I was unharmed. My wife later remarked that she saw me "float to the ground like a leaf from a tree." Had I been subject to fear, I would not have been trusting in God, who "upholdeth all that fall." Ps. 145:14. Human logic would have told me to concentrate on avoiding injury, perhaps freezing me with fear instead of alerting me to listen for and follow spiritual guidance.
In the second instance, I was piloting an airplane with three passengers. We were approaching a landing over a heavily populated city when both engines lost power. When none of my emergency procedures were effective, it became obvious a crash was imminent. For the past year I had been striving to develop that "listening" attitude which is receptive to the "still small voice" of Truth. As a result, I absolutely felt no fear. I was confident of Mind's guidance, even though a crash into a housing development is not statistically survivable. I continued with those human actions that were most likely to restore power to the plane. As we continued our descent, I was led also to do certain things that were out of the ordinary, and that contributed positively to our passing through "the valley of the shadow of death."
As we hit the second story of a duplex, there was no throwing up of arms in front of the face or a final, primordial scream, which Hollywood movies love to depict on such occasions. Instead of panicking, I continued flying the aircraft until it came to a stop. I did this, not because I'm extraordinarily brave, nor because I didn't understand the probable consequences, but because I knew that God is always with us and that nothing but good can result from following His direction. As we impacted the building, our right wing struck a heavy light pole, rotating the aircraft some 180 degrees. Two things happened as a result. First, our forward momentum was broken, which drastically reduced the force of our impact. Second, we were pivoted around the only occupied bedroom in the building. The plane came to rest in another bedroom, which had been occupied only minutes before, but whose occupant had left to cash a check after the repeated urging of a relative. Perhaps they, too, were receptive to that "still small voice" of Truth.
All four of us walked away from the wreckage, and occupants of the duplex received only minor injuries. Was it a miracle as the news media reported, or was it the result of accepting the promise of God's care?
Some may ask, "If you were so receptive, why were you not protected from going through an experience like this?" The Bible tells us that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not kept out of the fiery furnace. Yet, when they were taken out, not even the smell of smoke was evident.See Dan. 3:27. Daniel was not kept out of the lions' den. In the book of Daniel we read that God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, and "no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God." Dan. 6:23. Paul the Apostle was bitten by a viper after surviving a violent shipwreck. He shook it off and "felt no harm." Acts 28:5.
To know that we are governed and protected by the law of good, as I experienced, is to understand the underlying truth of Christ Jesus' teachings. Following his example, we recognize God as our sure defense, and fear proportionately becomes less and less a part of our experience.
Mary Baker Eddy defines Christian Science as "the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony." Rudimental Divine Science, p. 1. We need to actively claim our freedom from fear and limitation on the basis of this law.
In my experience, I have found there is a constant source of wisdom and direction available to us, and that source is God. The Bible speaks of the thoughts of God as being "more than can be numbered." Ps. 40:5. As we are selective in choosing only those thoughts that come from God, we can experience harmony regardless of circumstances. Listening expectantly for God's guidance is a truly effective prayer. The Bible represents God as saying, "It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer." Isa. 65:24. And in Psalms we find this counsel: "Be still, and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10.
In the midst of each crisis I listened; I listened because I needed an answer, a solution. It's impossible to have a problem that does not have a solution. Is there any better source for finding solutions than the all-knowing God? Shouldn't we actively develop an attitude of listening to and hearing the divine source of all solutions?
What happened to me that day after the plane landed on the building included further lessons in destroying fear. When our airplane had come to a stop, I had just seen direct evidence of God's presence, His power and protection. I had seen His law in operation, guiding every activity, and everyone was cared for. The plane had come to rest, but the building had quickly become an inferno. The plane's emergency door was activated, and one by one the passengers leapt to the ground. Then they looked up at me and yelled, "Jump!" I felt the flames—and fear, fear of falling, crept in. I jumped —out of fear, and the effects of my jump were painful.
It was reported by the press that I, the pilot, had refused medical attention. What they did not report was that I had telephoned my wife for Christian Science treatment—healing through prayer. Healing was taking place rapidly. Within a very few days walking was comfortable. The complete healing came when I realized there could be no ill effect, because I never had been in the valley nor through it, but had always been above it, in the charge of God's angels, as Psalm 91 so beautifully promises. See Ps. 91:11.
Prior to this experience, I had always wondered why the prophet Elijah fled from Queen Jezebel when she threatened his life. See I Kings 18:17—19:18. How could he have been afraid of her threat when he had just seen such mighty evidence of God's power? Elijah had challenged four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal in a confrontation that would expose as a hoax the god Baal and call the people to worship the true God. In this dramatic encounter, he had seen the ability of God to make Himself known. Yet at a single threat from Jezebel, he ran into the wilderness to hide. Even there, however, God helped him. Ultimately, Elijah was led to recognize more vividly the powerlessness of godless violence—earthquake, wind, fire. He was helped to understand that safety is always found in listening to and obeying the still small voice of God.
Elijah's experience taught me a lesson. We need to guard our thoughts at all times, never fleeing from fear's threats. But although I had jumped from the plane, the deep study of Elijah's experience showed me I did not have to go through earthquake, wind, and fire to hear the still small voice and experience its healing message.
The listening attitude, through which we cast out harmful, extraneous thoughts and rely only on ideas from God, enables us consistently to recognize God with us, and to rely on God's law. This law not only brings about our rescue from life threatening occurrences but helps us in every aspect of our lives.
