Facing our Fears

 Fear is a funny thing.  Seldom are we afraid of that which threatens us the most.  Often we fear that which really is no threat at all.

I preached last Sunday about the Texas shooting.  Specifically, I see these too frequent instances of mass shootings as being just a tip of the iceberg.  Polarization, and the tendency to see others as an enemy, anger, and fear permeate our culture.  Certain individuals act on it, and the result is tragic.

Before I could even speak about it I was approached before worship about whether the doors should be locked during the service.  Security concerns.  When security trumps welcome the church has a problem.

Fear.  Fear of the outsider.  We cannot give into fear.

The truth:  The single greatest risk to one attending our church or any church is probably the drive in.  Much more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than from anything else about church attendance.  This risk probably goes up astronomically when we attend Christmas Eve services, what with the tendency for people to drink and drive on holidays.

A second truth:  We fear the unknown, the stranger, when the threat is more often from those closest to us.  My understanding is that most of the time, gun violence occurs with people one knows, not total strangers.

And a third truth:  Domestic violence can touch the church.  The only situation where I can imagine posting a sentry at the church door is when there is a restraining order in place that affects our members.  When the church or its pastors support those seeking to escape domestic violence we may well become a target of that violence.

One of the things I've learned throughout this process of dealing with being bipolar is that emotions are not to be trusted any more than moods.  And fear is often the least trustworthy.  Perhaps our whole world needs a healthy dose of lithium or lamictal.

Life is going to happen.

We will not be able to anticipate most of the greatest challenges we will face in life.  The best we can hope for is the ability to deal with them when they present themselves.  I cannot begin to tell you how often I have imagined absolutely devastating consequences as a result of my being bipolar, only to discover they never materialized.  For example, I've gone bankrupt in my imagination many times since diagnosis.  Never happened.  Never missed  a payment.  Always had food on the table.

The lesson I've learned is that we need to go on with our lives.  Responsibly.  Do what we can do.  Take each day as a gift.  And not let fear deprive us of life.  Think about that.

The greatest harm that could come from the Texas shootings may not be the immediate victims of that shooting, but the repercussions throughout our culture.  I'm not minimizing the loss of life that occurred, or the incredible tragedy of that loss.  But if fear grips the rest of us we will have all become victims.  All of us. And that would be tragic.