Sometimes while in the drops on my bicycle, the rhythm of the motion becomes hypnotizing and I get lost in thought. I enjoy my mornings on the bike because it's one of the few times that I am completely disconnected from the siren call of electronics and I know that my responsibilities at home and at work can be put on hold for a moment or two.
I've been thinking of writing my thoughts down over the past few days, and so today I was wondering what I might name this blog and what I might write today. I figured it would be appropriate to make some reference to where these thoughts come from, hence the name "Muses in the drops."
Too much of my life is caught up in fear. Small and large decisions all are influenced by the fears I have. There is a difference between concern and fear, and I often cross the line between the two into fear. Posting this is a challenge to my fear and reflects the hope I have that I can get my ideas written down without the barriers of fear that would normally prevent me from posting as often as I would like.
I will often spend half an hour worrying about calling someone that I need to call, because I'm afraid of their reaction - am I calling too late, do they not want a call from me, etc. Sometimes I will get so used to this kind of fear that I will avoid making a call or doing something even though I don't have any specific reason to avoid doing it. I suppose it's good that my church calling gives me practice breaking this fear - I have to call at least a few people each week that I've never met.
It's interesting to me that the fear I reference above does not apply to interaction with youth, especially 13 and younger. It does apply to their parents, though. At least until I get to know them really well.
A wise person once told me that it is not a good idea to live in fear, and that I should never make decisions based on fear. I can definitely say that when I make decisions based on reasoned thought and prayer rather than on fear the results are much better.
Fear also influences other decisions that I make, but I'm working to move away from that.
My biggest fear right now is that this post isn't perfect, but if I don't post now the ideas will grow stale and I'll always have a bunch of incomplete ideas floating out there. How else can I refine my ideas but by inviting others to interact? I'm posting this as it is because I want to explore other topics, I want to see the reaction others have, and I don't need any of my posts to be flawless.
Enjoyed your comments. I hate calling folks for the same reason. Sometimes I think I put stuff off - even simple things - because of the fear of failure or rejection.....sad to think I fear my chicken coop siding....
ReplyDeleteI agree with your "reasoned thoughts and prayer" comment. Isn't interesting how that seems to work together. I like the statement "Peace comes not from a lack of adversity (fear?) but from knowing that you are doing what the Lord wants you to do at that given time."
One last lighter thought - If there is nothing to fear but fear it's self - - that's still being fearful right?
Gotta watch out for that siding :). I find I have to prepare things in advance as much as possible (e.g., when I'm going to go riding the next morning) because the smallest thing in the morning can prevent me from going. I fear to at least a small extent delays or anything that might get in the way. How I think others might react matters a lot.
ReplyDeleteNothing to fear but fear itself. That's an interesting one. I've always liked that quote from FDR. I don't think the "fear of fear" is really fear at all, at least in the sense we're talking about here. Instead, It's more of an active concern that motivates, rather than a damning, stifling fear that prevents action. Something good to explore in a future post.
I think that the stifling fear concept is accurate. If you put FDR's quote in context of the times it does lean to the pure concept of "damning" - the prevention of further progress. The people of the time couldn't get past the fear of the future as a result of the experience of the past.
ReplyDeleteMakes one think that there is something to apply here and now...
hmmmmm