Hearts Alive

From David Guyor

A thought came to me today, out of nowhere.  It came to mind, quietly, and then it stayed there and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The thought was about fear. It was really simple:

“We are supposed to live lives that involve fear.  It’s the nature of our world and the nature of the roll we are made to play in it.”

As easily as thinking, “Hmm, hamburgers on the grill sounds really good tonight,” the words came to my mind, “Your life is supposed to include fear.  You were made for it.”

Really?  That’s not how I usually feel about fear.  Most of what I have read or heard, or randomly caught over the years seemed to always teach against having fear.  Sorta like fear isn’t very “Christian”, or something.

But, maybe that’s not true.  Maybe we’re supposed to engage things in this world that make us scared.  And, (disheartening as it is as I now think about it), if I don’t engage in the things that should make me scared, I end up fearing things that, well, just really shouldn’t be that scary (like fearing my 401k plan will evaporate, or my health insurance isn’t that good, or my taxes may go up, or I look like I’m putting on a little weight, or it’s looking like my wife’s not in the mood so there goes the only bit of adventure I’ve been looking forward to all week.)

And here’s the irony that’s coming to me as I think about my life: 

When my life doesn’t require much, when I’m just plain bored with doing the next thing, and I’m not having to risk much of anything, I don’t relax and take it easy, I actually start worrying too much about smaller, less important things.

A few verses just came to mind:

“For whoever has a desire to keep his life will have it taken from him, but whoever gives up his life because of me, will keep it.” (Luke 9:24)
 
Or Paul’s words about his brother and “fellow soldier,” Epaphroditus,

“Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.  Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.”  (Philippians 2)

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”  (Whether these “forceful men” are friends or foes, the Kingdom is being realized through risk, violence and strength.)

I think it was Nelson Mandela who said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

So, what are you afraid of?  Is it worthy of your fear?

What in your life deserves to be pursued or deserves to be engaged or deserves all you
have to offer even if it’s going to have you scared? 

What doesn’t deserve your best?

Who needs your courage? 

What Kingdom front is ready to advance when YOUR ready to advance with it?