Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet? Mark 4:40 (TPT)
Afraid Much – Afraid Series – Part 1
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6
There is much to be afraid of in the world right now. Terrorism, political upheaval, bigotry, racism, the explosion of the poor and vulnerable, health care… I mean, it doesn’t take long to come up with a pretty decent list of all the reasons why I should “Get out of Dodge” and hunker down in a bunker somewhere.
Fear can become a controlling factor in our lives, determining our reactions to news stories, community issues, and personal situations.
After another tumultuous week in Australian Press, Waleed Aly, one of the presenters on the Channel Ten's news program “The Project,” said this:
“How we deal with our fear is becoming a defining measure that determines us as a people…
When we’re presented with an outrageous opinion, we are actually presented with two options: destruction or construction. We can react emotionally and carelessly and with little genuine critical thought, and we can destroy a perceived enemy in the hope that it will neutralize the threat that is making us feel unsafe, that's the destructive option.
Or we can do something that's a much more difficult than that.
When we’re presented with something that we perceive to be an outrageous opinion, we can consider what motivated that person, try to understand their fear, and then empathize with how they came to their conclusion. Cos the truth is, what motivates them is fear. Fear is the one thing we’re all sharing right now, cos I’m scared too…
What I’m suggesting is, while it feels good to choose destruction, I think we need to try construction. I’m not saying you should be silent in the face of bigotry, but when you do engage with someone you disagree with, I’m talking about assuming the best in people.
Showing others radical generosity in the face of their hostility. Even when it hurts.
And this is the much harder choice because it demands much more restraint, patience and strength. I’ve lost count of how many times outrage has gone viral. Wouldn’t it be amazing if just once we could send forgiveness viral? These are dark times. But the best thing to do is reach for a flashlight and not start a fire.“
Fear will send this already careening world completely out of control, up in flames. We’ve been here before. We’ve seen the destruction that “fear-in-control” breeds.
Forgiveness and empathy do not remove responsibility or absolve evil deeds. They do not shut down conversations or appropriations of guilt. They do not ask justice to be ignorant and blind.
We need to be able to talk about the problems and origins of fear – yes! But we also need to move beyond our fears and pain, and allow them to turn our hearts and minds toward answers and solutions that we can BUILD with. We need to work together.
So, how do we face fear? Move through it and beyond it? From the global to the personal?
Mark recorded this story (Mark 4): Jesus had been teaching all day, and after all was said and done, he said to his followers “Come. Let us cross to the other side [of the lake].” While on that journey, all crammed into a tiny boat, they were set upon by a terrifying storm. The disciples panicked and cried out for help. All the while, Jesus was asleep in the front of the boat. At peace. Undisturbed.
When the disciples were finally able to wake their slumbering Messiah, Jesus looked at them and said, “Why are you afraid?”
We ARE afraid. But why do we allow fear to control us as we do? Maybe the first directive of Jesus that we need to heed is not, “Do not fear” but rather, “Come, let us cross to the other side.”
Over to you… In a world faced with so much fear, what's the solution ? Leave us your comments below.
Go to Part 2 – Peace Be Still »
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