Two four-letter words
On a show aired on SBS, the magician Dynamo (Steven Frayne) asks a table of people, ‘What is the strongest emotion humans can have?’ The consensus is love.
Frayne disagrees, saying it’s fear.
What are the most common human fears? Some fear spiders, heights, small spaces, public speaking or cracks in sidewalks. But what are the big ones, the ones that dominate our daily thoughts, dictate history, and rule the world?
Fear of failure Fear of others Fear of loss Fear of the future Fear of the unknown Fear of the unexpected Fear of physical pain Fear of mental suffering Fear of death
Or there are combinations of the above: the fear of the physical pain of unexpected death in an accident; or fear of the future failure or your business. The options are as varied as the choices in a well-stocked fruit juice bar. Pick your poison!
The ironic thing is that fear itself can create what you fear:
· Fear can cause physical pain or mental suffering.
· Fear can result in death.
· Fear about an upcoming interview could easily produce failure.
I John 4:18 says:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment . . .
Love casts out fear, and, equally, fear casts out love. They’re mutually exclusive. They’re opposites. You can’t have both at the same time.
Fear is a form of personal torment. It’s a whip we use on ourselves, a grievous burden we insist on dragging around, a choking toxin we choose to ingest.
No one gives us fear. Fear is self-inflicted.
Where do racism, wars, economic slumps, riots, and crime come from?
Look deep enough and you’ll find fear.
Fear doesn’t have to be the most powerful human emotion. But too often it is.
Living with mindfulness
Negative things come from fear.
Positive things come from love.
Choose love to be your most powerful emotion.
With love, Marlane
First published on Medium.com/Illumination
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