Overcoming Fear

by

“Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes. For the flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good. They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil.

"…Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. — How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 

"… O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart! Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the evildoers lie prostrate; they are thrust down, unable to rise."

– Psalm 36 (selected verses, NRSV*)

Overcoming fear instilled in me by an elderly dentist when I was 10 years old, I finally had a dead and hurting tooth pulled. The dentist, in contrast to the old codger of long ago, explained step by step, word by word, example by example, what he would be doing. My fears were calmed. (The Valium helped). His demeanor brought knowledge and comfort. The tooth came out in quick order and with little fuss.

When all was said and done, the dental assistant said, “Would you like to see the tooth?” To which I replied, “NO WAY!” She continued, “Would you like to have it to take home? Many people want theirs to keep.” “NO WAY,” I replied again. “GET RID OF THAT THING ... it’s evil, diseased, useless, over and done with.” Home I went, a much happier camper and ready to begin to face the world with a better attitude now that the dastardly thing was gone.

In the midst of this, however, I wasn’t very ready to face the world. In fact, we were only about an hour into the TV reporting of the bombing in Boston when my partner and I said to each other, "Enough already." Now all we’ll hear from here on out is Boston, Boston, Boston. Every jot and tittle repeated over and over and over. Enough! How much more to we need to know, want to know, benefit from knowing?

So, we turned the TV channel to something more edifying.

Terrorism in the world has become such a common thing that it has become a daily event of life. We’ve listened to saber-rattling North Korea for the past two or three weeks and Boston has provided us some relief from that foolishness.

One wonders what it is that causes North Korea to embark on such lethal paths. What is it that makes them think more and more arms, more and more bluster, more and more threats will benefit themselves and their people. What do they fear?

And one wonders, if North Korea were to make nice with South Korea and the rest of the world, would not they benefit from all that modern civilization has to offer? Would they not? Or is it more important for a few to weald unlimited power against down-trodden people. How foolish it does seem.

Then along comes Boston. Perhaps it is North Korea carrying out what they promised. Since they are incapable of launching a missile that would reach places ripe for damage, it is easier to plant small devices to inflict harm on innocent individuals. Could be?

In any case, Boston relieved us from the endless tirade from North Korea. But has it? This morning’s paper, the Tampa Bay Times provided me with fodder for meditation today. Perhaps it will for you too. Here are the headlines and story lines printed in today’s paper.

Attack At The Boston Marathon – Two Explosions Rock Race’s End

At Least Three Die, and 144 are hurt.

In An Instant, Festive Scene Turns To Chaos

Showdown Looms Over Medicaid

That was page one, the front page. Here’s what followed in the first section.

Senate background check in trouble.

Iraq blasts kill 55 days before vote.

Ex-official focus of inquiry in Texas slayings.

Justices skeptical on human gene patents.

Court declines gun rights case

Afghan opium cultivation increases, U.N. says

Protests of vote erupt in Venezuela

U.S. Nuns still under scrutiny

Two men accused of plot to kidnap, torture women

Family tells of girl's suicide

Kerry visits family of attack victims

Hagel cancels medal for drone strikes, cyber operations

Stories of fear, luck stream back to bay area families

Chaos reigns

Showdown looms in Legislature over health care plans

Security upgraded

A failure to protect wetlands

VA report dodges invasion of privacy

Lieutenant (governor of Florida) is a major waste of resources

Trial starts in brutal killing of Pasco woman

Need I continue? This is in just one issue of a newspaper!

And we claim to be a nation with spiritual, moral values? And we think our churches, synagogues, mosques are important and have an influence upon our nation?

And?

Somehow, I’m not quite feeling the Love. Are you?

Somehow, I’m not quite sensing the integrity of our political/governmental system. Are you?

Somehow, I’m not quite seeing common sense where common sense could solve so much. Are you?

Somehow…

And the bottom line: Killings, murder, deceit, lies, deception, personal gain at the expense of others, immoral living, neighbor against neighbor, stranger against stranger, stealing in many forms, has become so commonplace in our nation that it seems to be normal.

“We” hardly even notice when some of the things identified in the headlines above happen! It’s the normal run of the day. As the world turns, there is no escape, so one might as just resign oneself to the fact that, “This is the way our nation and our world is and each of us ought to hope for the best and try to stay out of the line of fire. Congress certainly isn’t going to solve any of these issues, and even if they try, there’s no enforcing them."

The only way to enforce them? One by one. You and you. Me and Me. Us and Us. Finding once again, integrity, honesty, truth, justice, courage, gratitude, decency, civility, conversation, love.

Meditate this evening, and in the days to come, on the headlines listed above. Better yet, meditate on the headlines you read in your own newspaper and that you hear on your own TV and radio and Internet. Then, do something about it. Do what you and only you can do.

Smile.

Love.

Make your own little word a better place.

Perhaps it will rub off on those around you and teach them and you something of what it means to be integrity, grit, courage, love ... all that you can be.

* Bible quotations taken from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Rev. Thomas L. Shanklin of Lutz, FL, is a retired clergy member of the New England Annual Conference. This article is reprinted from his daily devotional series.