Fearless flight

Even a seasoned pilot or airplane passenger may become anxious when flying under certain conditions. But there is always a remedy for fear. We can trust God entirely for our Safety.

Recently on an overnight flight from San Francisco to New York, our plane began its normal gradual descent. I heard an unfamiliar grinding sound as the flaps adjusted and landing gear engaged. The plane began to level, then climb and circle. This happened twice. by then most of the other passengers were wide awake. There was fear and tension.

Humble prayer is always the most effective cure for fear. IT redirects thought to God's all-powerful control. It recognizes His ever-present love. To trust God's presence and power destroys fear and aids in adjusting one's physical environment and condition. It fulfills the Biblical law, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth our fear." n1

n1 I John 4:18

In the early morning light while circling the busy international airport, I was glad to acknowledge that God was awake and already providing all good. I realize that the true universe -- God's creation of spiritual ideas, whose source and control are always in the eternal, divine Mind -- is not subject to the malfunction. Certainly the same intelligence that was illustrated in that plane's design and purpose was active now to reveal to those in charge its proper control and function.

My prayer was a joyed-filled, confident awareness of the scientific fact given by Mary Baker Eddy n2 in the Christian Science textbook: "Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony." In the next paragraph she adds, "Under divine Providence there can be no accidents, since there is no room for imperfection in perfection." n3

n2 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science;

n3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m p. 424

All fear left. I began to see more clearly that in God's creation nothing is out of place, ever. I felt certain that this spiritual law was applicable to our present condition and would bring all concerned into concord -- crew, traffic controllers, passengers, and plane. Perfect judgment, action, and control are the result of divine Love's care for each of us. God's creations cooperate in perfect harmony. We are always and in all ways safe. God is Principle, the source of perfect, universal order.His law, understood and enacted in our lives through prayer, upholds us.

Part of a poem by Mrs. Eddy came to mind: O gentle presence, peace and joy and power; O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour, Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight! Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight. n4

n4 Poems,m p. 4

It's hard to describe the wonderful calm that I felt. Others seemed to feel it too. We soon heard the captain say that a malfunction had been corrected. We were ready to land. Touchdown was safe and smooth.

But that wasn't all. The cockpit door was open as we deplaned, and as I walked by I couldn't help overhearing a crewman report that some unexplainable force had adjusted the landing mechanism.

While waiting for our connecting flight, I was reminded of this Bible promise: "the eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." n5 It's a fact that we are always in His loving care. And we can be unafraid in proving it!

n5 Deuteronomy 33:27.

DAILY BIBLE VERSE Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29 -- 31