Fear is an emotional response arising out of one’s soul that can impact both one’s body and spirit. Is it ever an appropriate response? I think so, if the response is one couched in wisdom. Displays of courage in the face of danger are both constructive and calming as they mitigate fear. Winston Churchill said, “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.”
In our current pandemic, fear of a potential outcome (death, loss of income, etc.) can yield either a variety of responsible actions or behavior that can be harmful to both oneself and/or others. As we have recently seen, the best outcomes will occur when our behavior reflects us all caring for our neighbors. We can all learn from this pandemic by caring for our neighbors long after this virus has been left behind.
Fear on the Increase
Mankind has been dealing with fear since its beginning. In the last few centuries, the growth of fear-producing entities seems to have paralleled the growth of technology. New technologies, for the most part, seem to have had desirable, initial outcomes. Unfortunately, enough have found their way into misuse to give us a sense of uneasiness about the times in which we live. C.S. Lewis’ message, “On Living in an Atomic Age,” is as relevant today (substitute pandemic for atomic) as it was at the end of WWII. In it, Lewis’ words paint a picture of crises and how we should react to them. He goes on to make some sobering worldview contrasts that are well worth pondering.
Can we do anything about the underlying or overt discomfort we are facing? Yes. Take a look at your worldview. What is it and what is it telling you about the times in which you live? Imagine your future in light of both (your) history (background, culture, and experience) and your current thinking. If you don’t like what you see, I’ve shared a number of examples of worldview-based outcomes for one to consider.
Thinking is key – without it, one is left with some pretty gloomy options, not the least of which is being trapped in our fear. President Roosevelt courageously captured this essence in, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It is ironic that one physically paralyzed in his latter years as president would admonish us to shun mental paralysis. He realized that such a condition would leave one stuck, right where they were, in the middle of a crisis.
Calming Fear
Where might one find some calm in the midst of this storm of fear? Certainly not from the sensationalized vocabulary of much of our media. Is this a question of assurance vs insurance? Insurance companies play on the fear of the unknown, yet they are not all bad. One needs to (think how to) balance due diligence, e.g. insurance with the good stewardship of what we have and with the faith that one’s worldview provides. So, how does one find assurance? There is a fear that increases assurance rather than dread.
Within a Biblical worldview, the “fear of the Lord” means awe and respect for Him and His creation and all that that entails. There are many great quotes from the truth of His Word. Here are two:
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).”
“You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear…(Romans 8:15)”
There is rest, hope, peace, and joy available, within a Biblical worldview, especially in times of great distress. If your worldview isn’t helping you much now, check out my thoughts in Existence on making some adjustments. To many, a Biblical worldview seems to be quite reasonable. C.S. Lewis, for one, thinks so. Read his “Learning in War-Time” message and think pandemic when he mentions war. Here’s an excerpt:
“I think it important to try to see the present calamity in a true perspective. The war (coronavirus) creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice (from paragraph 3).”
Lewis goes on with a sobering discussion of normalcy. He sees its basis as a series of logical and rational choices molded by one’s worldview, or vice versa. We have an opportunity to speed our return to perhaps a new normal via the good choices we make now, couched in an overwhelming concern for our neighbors. Let’s make it a priority.
