Dear Parish Family,
“Only when we are no longer afraid, do we begin to live.” Dorothy Thompson was a well known American journalist of the 20th century. She was an outspoken women of her era and often was known in the same category of influential women as Eleanor Roosevelt. She received the title as “first lady of American journalism.” She added “ if we can get over our fear, our experience of life expands enormously.”
In Luke 12:32 we are told “Fear not, little flock” and Jesus tells us “Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.” For many of us we repress or deny our fear when it creates a danger either physical – (falling), spiritual (not going to Heaven), mental (losing our mind), emotional ( losing a loved one), or moral (falling into sin). Fear can easily become the enemy of growth, freedom, and joy. We all suffer in one way or another from fear, but it is how we deal with this emotion that we work through it and see sunshine on the other side.
My personal fear is of birds of any size – small or large. Having experienced some very uncomfortable, frightening situations, I continue to try and have some form of conquering this. Needless to say, I am not happy to be at Trafalgar Square in London or the aviary at the Detroit Zoo. My prayer is that those birds do not start building this year’s home by the parish office entrance!
Think of your own fears. Have they changed over the years? Have you embraced them and moved on? We simply cannot allow our fears to rob us from the light and joys of life. Isaiah reminds us “ so do not fear; for I am with you; do not be dismayed: for I am your God.”
Our loving God does bless us and watches over us each and every day!
Mary Jo