A Fable About Fear

Death row deal?… On this day in history, Scott Peterson was sent to death row for the slaying of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson (2005).

A Fable About Fear

Once upon a time, there was a young woman who carried Fear as her constant companion.

It wasn’t fear of wild animals, impending danger or the shadows that lurk in the night. In fact, her friend Fear had become disassociated with any real thing. It had become an entity all its own that could morph and wind its way into any circumstance the woman happened to be in.

The woman wasn’t born this way.

When she was small, Fear had served her well and taught her how to stay out of harm’s way. But as the girl grew and experienced the world around her (which could sometimes be harsh and painful),?Fear found a foothold for power.

Fear taught the girl that Harsh and Painful were always just around the corner, even when they weren’t, and showed her how to avoid life so that she wouldn’t meet them. When she did meet Harsh and Painful, Fear said, “I told you so. You better stick with me.”

Fear’s Sneaky Plot

Sometimes her erstwhile friend Fear thought it was fun to poke around in the young woman’s mind, searching for weak spots so that it could manufacture something that felt as real as an oncoming train or a lurking monster.

Fear was sneaky like that. It liked to torment and create havoc in the woman’s heart and mind. It whispered stories in her ear that weren’t true or only had a grain of truth. Fear liked to embellish. Fear liked to stir the pot.

The woman knew that she’d allowed Fear to become her master. But?she kept feeding it by worrying, over-thinking, pontificating, ruminating and believing without question.

As Fear munched away growing fatter and stronger, the young woman began to shrink.

She shrunk so small that she could fit into the safe box that Fear hadn’t infiltrated—little did she know Fear had built just for her.

She felt comfortable in the box; and Fear liked her there because it kept him in control.

The Power of Truth

Fortunately, the box had windows. And after a while, the woman started looking outside. She saw other people in boxes just like hers. Just like her, they were safe and quietly contained with Fear guarding the door.

But she saw something else, something that stirred her heart and soul. She saw people who weren’t in boxes.

These people had room to run, move freely and do anything they wished.?They were doing exciting, creative, adventurous things (many of the same things that Fear had warned her about).

But they were happy. They weren’t hiding. In fact, she could see Fear chasing them, but?these people laughed at Fear. And when Fear did catch them, they would firmly cast Fear aside and put Fear in a box!

How amazing!!

How liberating!

The woman cracked the door of the box, and yelled over Fear’s head to the people outside, “How did you conquer Fear like that? How did you put Fear in a box?”

“Truth,” they shouted back.?“We battled Fear with Truth and Inquiry, and Fear lost all of its powers!”

“How do I find Truth and Inquiry?” asked the woman.

“It’s that light inside of you,” they said. “And all you have to do is shine it in Fear’s face.” Tentatively, the woman picked one of Fear’s favorite weak spots, and she looked inside herself for Truth and Inquiry.?She found a faint, flickering light and held it up to Fear. Immediately, Fear grew weaker. And as Fear grew weaker, the woman started to grow. Truth and Inquiry got brighter too.

With practice, the woman was able to shine the light on all of the weak spots that Fear had created. Eventually, the woman grew too big, too strong, too powerful for the box. As soon as she burst out of the box, she saw Fear cowering outside.

Her heart went out to Fear because she remembered how it felt to cower. She gently placed Fear in the box because she knew she might need Fear on occasion.?But now she saw Fear for what it was — her servant, not her master. And Truth had set her free.

Inspirational Insight

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6, NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life… Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:12 & 30-32, NIV)

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