Sunday, April 6, 2008

Dear God,

Sometimes the path toward God reveals scary things, an odd twist in the road, an unusual sighting, a dark hidden something. Getting closer and closer can bring fear. Standing face to face with fear is uncomfortable, disconcerting, just plain scary. Some get stopped right there, never go any further. Fear becomes a daily enemy. Waking to fear and going to sleep with it becomes routine.

For some fear is a way of life, running scared from anything that smacks of change. The unstable ground releases fear into one's mind leaving the thought that fear is all there is. The blackness of fear can leave one in the abyss for a very long time, even forever.

But what is faith if not a fear lifter? What is faith if not the power by which to climb out of the hole victoriously? What is faith if not the means by which to walk on by, continuing the journey reminding one's self that sometimes we encounter unpleasant and scary things along the road? Fear is not the end of the road, just a bump along the way.

Faith is refined in the bumps and potholes of life. It is there while laying on our backside that we are forced to look up. The sun is still shining. Clouds are still lifting toward the sky. The breezes are blowing. There may be an occasional gray/black cloud that will hang around, but not long in the face of faith.

The rising up of fear within is always a cautionary signal that something is afoot. But more importantly, it is a call to faith, faith that has within itself everything necessary to face the fear, deal with it, then move on. There are many more scenes to view, more beauty around the corner. The road is never straight but faith is.

What is faith if not the gift of God for anything that scares us?

I'm on a
faith journey,
not a journey
toward fear.
My faith
can battle
any fear
that comes along
because
faith is forged
while I am afraid.
For
faith
always
bring me
to you.

Love, Andrea