dailydatewithgod

FEAR!  I said the word, are you scared yet? 😉 Everyone experiences it.  There are times in our lives when we are ruled by it.  Fear is part of the human condition.  We usually label it as bad or some kind of lower emotion.  In some cases it can be a great motivator.  Like most things it is neither simply good or bad.  It does serve a purpose.  How do I know that?  Easy, because it exists.  All the things that we think and feel are part of our human experience.  Everything can be useful.  The moment we deem something bad or to be avoided we run like the plague.  We fear being fearful.  And when we focus on avoiding fear, we are focused on fear.  What if instead we acknowledge it, we feel it and then let it go?  I have heard the expression from eastern spiritual practitioners of inviting the fear for tea.  In the Hebrew and Christian scriptures the phrase used over and over by God is “be not afraid” or “fear not.”  God must have known that we would experience fear.  In order to do the reverse, we must acknowledge that it is there.  It doesn’t say make it wrong, run from it, or hide it.  Just notice that it is there.  The lack of ease with fear is if we live inside of it.  To me, fear is simply an indication to invite God in more fully.  In fact, when I invite fear for tea and ask it why it is here, I also invite God.  It is a regular tea party.  There is no shame or wrong in acknowledging that it exists.  Fear beckons courage.  I have two favorite fear quotes, both from movies: ” A life lived in fear is a life half-lived.” (Strictly Ballroom).  “Courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to go ahead anyway.”  (Princess Diaries).  Just like anything it is not what is happening, it is how we are choosing to act in regards to what is happening.  The fact that you are afraid or experience fear simply means you are human.  It is what you do with it that counts.  My prayer for us today is to have the courage to acknowledge our fear and with the great love our creator, thank it for showing up and ask how it can be useful in helping us to create more love.  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen