The tendrils of fear are creeping everywhere. Fear seems to have taken root in our collective psyche and is intent on spreading to every corner of the earth. The truly sad part is that we seem to be encouraging it's growth. My concern stems from my attempted watching of the Republican Presidential Debate tonight. I should have known better. In the five minutes that I could stomach, I am quite sure my blood pressure went up. I got angry. I was saddened. I didn't want to be a Christian anymore, perhaps one of the tribes in the Amazon is taking new members.
It was not their politics, though I do not agree with them on any point, but their intolerance and fear that caused me such distress. Fear was oozing out of all of them. The fear was about losing something, about the unknown, about the stranger who is different. There was no room for grace to make a home. There was no place for compassion to find a resting spot. There was no welcome for a person of colour, a Muslim, or a gay man.
The debate was a clear reminder of the daily choices I make about how I will live. I can choose to live with fear and suspicion or I can choose to live with love and trust. Love and trust are the way to go. Of course that doesn't mean fear isn't present daily, but I get choose whether to embrace it as a friend or struggle to banish it. The more of us that choose a world where fear is not in control the closer we are to living in a world that is stronger, more vibrant and more just. Maybe I should send a note to the Republican candidates, a new platform to explore!
I enjoyed your post. It’s a lot like college – we should absorb everything we can but ultimately you need to take what you’ve learned and apply it.
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