Free from Fear

This past Saturday, I attended the Holy Spirit That Man Is You (TMIY) meeting bright and early at 6:15 a.m. It is easy to see the Holy Spirit working as 48 men attended the 90-minute session.

The video presentation caught my attention when the speaker said, “You know … Mother Teresa is a clear example of how pure love can drive out fear.”

There is a powerful message here, and it’s not that tough to grasp. Most of us know we will reach greater heights and happiness by sharing love and not hatred.?

Sharing Love

Here are some examples of how we can share love in our day-to-day lives:

(a)??We see it all the time in the workplace. A team member might be struggling with a project or assignment. We know we can help. Instead of saying, “That’s not in my job description,” we can show love and empathy. When we offer to help this co-worker, he feels we care about him.

(b)?Late one Saturday night, I was awoken by a conversation my wife and 14-year-old daughter were having at the dining room table. Our daughter had attended a school event that ran late, and she was unhappy about something that occurred. My wife spent nearly an hour talking with her about the situation. She showed the beauty and love only a mother can share with her daughter. I didn’t have to get out of bed to participate in this conversation. My wife knew exactly what our daughter needed during this difficult time.

(c)??Mother Teresa was an advocate for the poor. I understand that the meaning of “poor” is often associated with one’s socioeconomic status. However, there are countless opportunities for us to identify a situation where someone needs our help and love, and it’s not related to money. For example, when someone is new to a group and is looking for a friendly smile, let’s be the first person to welcome this individual. I can only imagine the many beautiful friendships we can form if we follow just this one practice.

Release the Brakes

The TMIY speaker asked the following question during the video presentation: “What is stopping you from being free?”

For me, here are some of the notable reasons I fail to show love … pride, envy, jealousy, anger, and so on.

I can easily catch myself thinking I am better than someone else. It’s an ugly thought, and I want to do everything possible to eradicate this belief from my mind.

Mother Teresa said it many times, “We’re all children of God.”

At some of the church retreats, we are sometimes assigned to serve food to the participants. We even carry their plates for them as they walk alongside. We ask them what they would like to drink, and we promptly get it for them.

When I first participated in this activity, I found it weird. “I’m not a waiter!”

I now realize that serving others has nothing to do with pride.

It has everything to do with showing unconditional love.

Homework Inquiry

During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: How will you show love to others?