I wish I had an answer to every voiced and hidden fear. As I listened to fear being expressed by a friend, I realized I had no answer. While his fear is not my own, my reason for comfort with his area of concern did not satisfy the equivalent in my life. As I look across the spectrum, toddler to senior citizens, weak to strong, vulnerable to resilient, it appears that each struggle with the fears living within.
I watched a young boy laughing as he played with his father. His hesitancy from a few minutes earlier when they had entered a room full of strangers had disappeared. In its place was a confidence with no fear. When dad was engaged, anything was possible! Even his mother’s fearful looks and increasingly strident voice of warning did little to dampen his enthusiasm. His confidence knew no limits.
Everything changed when dad became distracted by friends coming into the room. With his dad’s attention focused on somewhere else, the boy’s mood went from distracting to silent, almost invisible. It was as if I was watching s psalm come to life; “My God, don’t turn a deaf ear to my hallelujah prayer.” (Psalm 109.1)
As I have reflected on that moment, I realize that fears can only be answered by the voice of divinity within us. The best that I can do for another is to gently point to the source of Hope living within them and then do my best to get out of the way. Three things that give me courage in this process are the following.
Gifts of hope are often given by another but found within. In their gift, we see, feel, and able to think about the previously impossible.
Fears can be common but they are always personal. You and I may have fears that are unique, similar, even duplicates. Whatever the situation might be, the answer to fear will come from within us.
Fears can go (vanish) as quickly as they come. In our darkest moments, we endure and persevere with this truth.
