Wow, what a year it’s been, over a year. The masks, the hyper-vigilance. So how do we get through that? How do we get down from that? The care, the social distancing, all of it’s been so important.
But you know, I’m fully vaxxed. My wife is fully vaxxed. We got on a jet and flew across the country and saw our son and daughter-in-law. We hadn’t seen them, both of them, in over a year. And yet these habits, the habit of fear can still be there. So look to that.
Now, fear–not being afraid. Well, remember that wonderful verse. Perfect love casts out fear. Love is the opposite of fear, not courage. I mean, there is that line, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” But fear is only natural. It’s part of human nature. I mean, when God appeared to Mary, fear. The angels appeared to the shepherds, fear. Jesus even, dying there on the cross. You know, before in the Garden of Gethsemane. Fear. It’s a whole part of us. But so is love. So claim it. Own it. Claim it as much as that N-95 mask. Claim it and own it for yourself.
Here’s the prayer I like to use. Remember how Jesus said, you know, you love your neighbor as yourself. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. Your mind, too. And–at least in the Book of Mark–and all your strength. I mean, that says to me your physical self. Love needs to fill up all those parts. So in your prayers, try that one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your feelings, your soul, that inner part of your being. Your mind, thinking through it. The tests, the vaccines. They’re highly effective. And your strength.
As I was sitting on that plane and I was doing what you’re supposed to do, I was wearing the mask. And I thought, “Now, it’s a six-and-a-half hour flight. How am I going to eat, you know, through this mask? Well, I was sitting in a seat by myself. The flight attendant was next to me and he’d gotten up and it was now all by myself. I lowered the mask. I had my juice. I had my nuts. And it was okay. You know, that’s my mind working but also my heart accepting this new reality. The hyper-vigilance was there for a reason. But we can now go and embrace all that love. Don’t forget it. It is the way to fight the fears. Keep at it. Rick Hamlin. Even silence is praise. God bless.
