Overcoming Fear
This article on overcoming fear was originally written on March 21, 2020 during the shelter in place and social distancing orders related to the COVID-19 virus. But its message is as relevant and true today as it was then.
I am reminded of an old Buddhist story about overcoming fear as I think about the sense of anxiety, hoarding, mistrust, and hysteria, which were running rampant in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, and continue to be ever-present in various and sundry ways throughout our world even now.
Once upon a time, a giant monster stood and blocked the light of the sun throughout the whole earth. It shouted vile threats to everyone, and its voice was louder than thunder. People cowered and were immobilized by despair before the ever-growing monster.
But there was one woman who refused to cower before the dark power that promised to drown her in its wake. Instead of cowering or running from it, she walked toward the vile creature.
As she walked, something magical and miraculous began to happen. Ever so slowly, regardless of the laws of physics and reason, the monster began to shrink as she came closer to it. Shafts of sunlight began to break through as the monstrous shadow began to fade.
At last the woman came face to face with the beast which was now so small that she was able to pick it up and hold it gently in her hands. As it continued to shrink, she spoke to it and asked, “What is your name, oh former monster?”
As it was vanishing into nothingness she heard a weak and tiny voice reply, “My name is …FEAR.”
I do not mean to minimize the reality of genuine conditions and threats , like COVID-19, which must be taken seriously and dealt with. But I do believe that the monstrous fear and anxiety which runs rampant throughout our culture is a much more dangerous and potentially disastrous than any epidemic or catastrophe. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for fear, for the ongoing knot in the stomach, and for the sense of helplessness that makes us think there won’t be enough of whatever it is that we are sure we might need regardless of the cost or damage to others around us. When we allow fear to become a monster, we give it permission to take away our peace of mind because we are constantly thinking negative thoughts. When we give in to fear, we give up our ability to enjoy the here and now because we are overwhelmed by the “what might happen.” And perhaps the worst part is that fear robs us of any joy in our relationships with those closest to us and around us because all we seem to think and talk about is what we fear.
How do we go about overcoming fear? In Psalm 23, in the Jewish scriptures, the writer says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because you are with me.” What that means is, like in the Buddhist story, the fear monster really is hollow.
At one time or other we all walk through the valley of the shadow, but we never walk there alone. God, in all of the many ways we recognize and experience God, is with us, and no matter what might happen, God does see us through it. That may sound like a namby-pamby platitude, but it is the truth. Believe it or not, in the end all will be well when that walk through the valley is over. And it will be over, either in this life or in the life to come.
Fear and negativity don’t prepare us to deal with adversity. Hope and trust do.
So, regardless of what may be going on in your life it's okay sometimes to go ahead and smile, laugh, sing, dance and be happy as we shelter. Doing those things won’t damage our ability to be prepared for whatever we might have to face. The only damage they will do is to the fear monster.