FEAR—The Great Leveler

I've been meditating lately on the profound power that fear can wield in our lives. Especially these days when there is no shortage of things that have and continue to cause fear to spread like a flu pandemic. Terrorist attacks, job losses and home foreclosures monopolize the headlines. Despair it seems for now, is winning the battle for many hearts and minds.

What really brought this home for me was a recent story reported by Reuters of a 45 year-old, educated man who was apparently motivated by money troubles shot and killed his wife, three sons and mother-in-law before taking his own life. The report goes on to describe this murder-suicide as 'tragic devastation'. I would add to that description as the outcome of unchecked fear.

Let me explain: in the beginning, fear disturbs our peace much like a stone cast into a still pool disturbs the water. News of a looming depression, financial markets in turmoil, jobless claims in every sector of the economy are enough to cause the 'water' of our peace to ripple. Unchallenged, this fear can begin to make its home inside our hearts, effecting our relationships, our ability to focus on our work and some have even suggested the health of our bodies. In the end, fear claims its final victim: our rationale. I would suggest to you that fear brought this man to the conclusion that taking life is an option to confronting adversity. In other words, deep rooted fear makes the actions of the insane just one decision away from what our conscience knows better. It is real, it is dangerous and is in affect the great leveler. All we profess to believe and live for can be swept away in an instant if this battle against fear is not won.

Time and time again we are admonished by our Lord to Fear not, Do not fear, Do not be afraid and so the message is clear but the practice is difficult—especially when the heat of trouble is turned up. It is during these times that we would do well to remember that fear is not satisfied with simply disturbing our peace. Fear wants to take root. Fear wants a home in our hearts. Fear is playing for keeps—and so should we.