Love and Fear

My husband is preaching a sermon series about this very topic and it made me remember a quote I heard from an old friend once.  I put it on my Facebook the other day:

There are only two feelings, Love and fear:
There are only two languages, Love and fear:
There are only two activities, Love and fear:
There are only two motives, two procedures,
two frameworks, two results, Love and fear,
Love and fear.(Micheal Luinig)

I  believe there is a great deal of wisdom in that.  We often think that the opposite of love is hate, or maybe indifference, but what if the opposite of love is fear.  It would make sense then, that in 1st John we are reminded that there is no fear in love and that perfect love casts out fear.

When I take a look around me the past several months I can see how the world has become captive to fear.    This means, that more than ever before, those of us who know the Author of Love should be able to help cast out that fear.   But not if we are overcome by fear ourselves.  We often forget the rest of the verse in First John that says he that fears is not made perfect in love.

Whether your challenge is with the big heavy issues of our world, or something small and comparatively simple in your life, is fear more prevalent than love in your heart?  If so, come to God today and ask Him to perfect you in love so that you can be fearless.

I want to leave you with a quote that was in the link I posted yesterday in case you haven't read it.  You should read it.  I have read and reread it several times over the past few days.  Interestingly, the author is a "post-trauma specialist" which fits right in with what we are studying and learning about in our quest to provide trauma informed care.

When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But...that is not what great ships are built for. --Clarissa Pinkola Estes

I can't stop listening to this song....