"There is no fear in
 love . . . "  I John 4:18

 


Often when I pay close attention to my body I am aware of being something other than relaxed, even when there seems no obvious reason to be uptight.  My shoulders are up, I'm sitting up a little more than I would be if I were relaxed, etc.

Because fear is such an uncomfortable emotion we may be able to disregard it enough so that we are not aware of it when it is there. Paying attention to our bodies may help us know what our true emotional state is.  (If we really want to know!  :)  )

One of the realities of life is that we get attached to things we can lose. No problem, as long as the attachment is a healthy one.  A healthy attachment to someone or something or some experience allows us to be close to that entity and enjoy its benefit in our life and yet not hold onto it out of fear of facing whatever feelings we would encounter if we lost it.  Sometimes people refer to the way they are relating to someone or something as "holding it loosely."  Something held tightly squeezes out love.

Here are some things we may be attached to somewhere on the scale from unhealthy to healthy:  parents, car, sports, exercise, food, friends, children, religious activity, computer games, sex, praise/affirmation, books, work, accomplishments, spouse, health, reputation, money, knowledge, security, and on and on. 

High or chronic anxiety may indicate that we are attached to something/someone that we need to learn to hold more loosely, allowing it (or he/she) to be in a more natural place in our lives instead of making it some sort of "god" around which we orient our lives. 

Sometimes a childlike trust in God seems to be just that - something we may have been able to do as a child.  We think we've grown up and are big now, not realizing that true spiritual growth requires one to be childlike, aware of one's limitations and inadequacies and smallness, and yet value to Someone unfathomably bigger and better than oneself.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, Some of you may be considering what you would like to give up, or let go of, during Lent.  Often people choose something they know they are too attached to, hoping that giving it up loosens the attachment so that they can live more freely. 

I know I too attached to and depend on books to do more for me than they can, so I am choosing to forego buying any books during Lent.  I've gone through other times of giving up buying books and I suspect I will want to again but I feel a bit hopeful whenever I face and embrace the illusion that another book is really going to satisfy me - and I'm doing that right now. 

However, this is Fat Tuesday, so that's why I have looked at any book I think I may want in the next few weeks and ordered it. 

Not really.  :)

So, perhaps fear is diminished and peace is increased in our lives as we learn to love things, people, and experiences for what they are and not insist they do more for us than they can.   "There is no fear in love", someone reputable observed.

"God, when I am anxious I don't love well.  I get too concerned about me and what I might lose.  Today again I abandon myself into your care and choose to allow people, things, and experiences to be where they need to be in my life, so that I can relate freely to them rather than try to control or avoid them."