FEAR LESS

FEAR LESS. That is a concept that is rarely heard in our world today. Economic woes, global conflicts, ceaseless health warnings, climate change and of course the ceaseless rabid fear mongering in some political circles can cause even the strongest of hearts to despair. The use of anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications is higher than any other sort of medications. The epidemic of alcohol and substance abuse also testifies to the struggle of humans to face their fears. A most prevalent and basic of fears, that of being alone or not belonging, is pandemic even with (or because of) the vast array of ways to cyber-relate. FEAR LESS. Is this even realistic? Aren't the multitude of worries we face real and to be....feared? Is it not at least naive or even irrational not to be afraid? FEAR LESS. Although the access to the tsunami of frightening information (much of which is false) is much worse in our information addicted world the reality of fears has always been a part of humanity. Facing wild beasts, plagues and murdering hoards was often a daily genuine reality in ancient times. The very real threats of nuclear war in the Cold War or of homelessness and hunger during the Great Depression again were deeply real fears for those generations. FEAR LESS. But another quality is just as accessible today as it was in times past. The capacity to FEAR LESS, i.e., to exercise COURAGE is a choice we all can make, daily. Will we listen too and share uncertain rumors and fears or will we seek to share...courage? Will we actually seek to learn about and face our fears or will we cower behind flimsy walls of ignorance? Dare we to discover that the monsters we fear may actually become friends that can help us grow when seen in the light of courage? FEAR LESS. Daily, what could happen if instead of seeking to instill fear we sought to build up courage, in our self, our family, our community and world? What would happen if we purposefully, daily invested in courage? "So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE, BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because he first loved us. If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also." ~ I John 4:16-21 Remember we cannot exercise courage except when facing our fears. FEAR LESS.

Doing...Being...Trusting

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time ~ From the Gospel [John 6:28-29]: "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." People are consumed with their work. We identify our SELF by our work. "I am a teacher", I am a student. I am...unemployed". So much of our identity and our self perceptions, our self-worth is built upon the sometimes insecure sands of our work and accomplishments. We strive to follow a path that will fulfill our plans, hopes and expectations. In the Gospel reading this Sunday we observe those who were seeking Jesus presenting Him with a vital question: "What must we DO, to be doing the works of God?" Perhaps to better understand our Lord's response we might distill the question into six words: WHAT MUST WE DO...TO BE?" The question of our being is one that is central to our existence, to our identity. What must I be doing? What am I to...BE? At 60 plus years old I confess I still wonder and dream what I will be..when I grow up! The answer to our being isn't found in our work, ethnicity or culture. It isn't found in our genealogy or environment. All those facets and more help form who we are but they are just that, facets of the gem that is our soul. To know what we must "DO...TO BE" we need to heed the response of Jesus. "This is the work of God, to BELIEVE in Him and whom He has sent." Our present day obsession with self will find this difficult. Are we not to believe in self? Is not all the universe at my beck and call? Hardly. If the extent of our faith is our self it is a faith of infinite ...smallness. Christ makes the path very clear..TO BE we are called to BELIEVE in God, in Him. It is from the simplicity of this relationship that God then can lead us on the path of BEING the person He created. As God leads over the bridges of His making, through the mountains and valleys of His purpose we not only work the will of God we discover His work, daily in our lives. It is important to realize this is profoundly a relationship of FAITH, rooted in LOVE. We may not know the way or purpose. But we can trust that God does. And, we discover, as we follow faith we live out our being, our purpose, In God. "WHAT MUST WE DO...TO BE?" In believing in God we discover we are His. We discover we are created to be God's creation and children of faith lived courageously in Love with God alive in His eternal hope. God, may my words, my works, my being proclaim my trust and love in you. May my being be yours.