The only thing we have to fear is fear itself....
Fear swallowed me alive. It was like a huge monster that slid from below the surface and its mouth opened in a ravenous way. My legs were paralyzed as I tried to run but the feeling of fear stopped me on the spot. I couldn’t move. Worse yet – I was asleep when this happened and could not wake up. Not a good night – not at all….
A bad dream is the last thing that any of us want. It sticks with us for a long time.
Yet the one thing that is worse than a Bad Dream – is a Daytime Nightmare. They pop into our consciousness and linger for days at a time consuming our being with fear.
The situation that you are facing right now may be the worst possible scenario that could happen to anyone. It is happening to you. It is not a dream and it won’t go away. You are living it NOW. And it will not leave. Every waking moment it bites at your progress through life.
At this very moment people that I have heard from in the USA and parts of Canada – may lose their homes with the terrible conditions that they face now. There are no jobs or the jobs they had are now history. The struggle that they had for years to keep up mortgage payments and be on time means nothing now. They will lose their homes before the summer time. It has all meant nothing.
In southern Saskatchewan and parts of the middle west of the USA – there is a drought on now. It has been many years since the land has had a good soaking of rain. There simply has been little if any at all. The winter has had little snow in some parts. It is bad.
Yet at the same time the price of grain is high. But these parts will not be able to grow grain at all. As to cattle – it is almost as bad. There isn’t enough water in some parts to let the animals drink. And they all have payments that must be made – or else!
There is a growing sense that we are on the door step of another recession. The “R” word is not being used by any leader yet. But it may happen soon.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address in 1933 as he became President of the USA is powerful when you read it.
Quote:
“I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.” End quote.
Placing this address in context is important. In 1933 the whole of our two countries were in a mess with a massive RECESSION. There were no crops. It was much like it is today. People lost their jobs. They lost everything in fact. They walked away from all that they had invested in as to houses and farms and factories.
Up to the time that Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected he had campaigned with a light and almost comical presentation. No one really got to know according to some historians – yet they elected him President.
There was nothing light and easy about the times that he entered. He personally was not broke. He personally lived fairly well. He knew nothing of what the “good people” were going through in a dust eaten area of the mid-west.
He was a politician. Why would he know about what was going? They all seem to be isolated and insolated in many people’s minds. Why would they care?
The problem is…
When you are facing the worst time in your life and career – how can anyone care or even understand your situation? You are not sure you do – so how will they?
The illustration I gave earlier about a Daytime Nightmare is mine. I am frightened to death of some things that are rising in my life. But who will understand? Who actually cares? Who can I tell? The answer I am afraid is – No one..! That is what makes the fear the worst to face…that word “alone”.
In my case I started the battle against fear – by talking to someone. I can’t talk to everyone – just someone. A some “one” is enough. They didn’t have the answers for me – but they had an ear.
So where do we go from here? Frozen to death by the fears that are as real as the hand in front of us – we cannot go. What do you mean “GO” – pastor?
I am going to call on people that I need to listen. In turn they will get me listening to them. Together we will get through this Daytime Nightmare.
The Bible has a powerful statement by an ancient wise man – King Solomon. He said, in Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 (New International Version)
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
You cannot do this alone. Neither can I. Find someone and share the need and accept the care.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Resources:
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address – 1933 http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/
Ecclesiastes 4:11-12
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=25&chapter=4&verse=11&end_verse=13&version=31&context=context
A bad dream is the last thing that any of us want. It sticks with us for a long time.
Yet the one thing that is worse than a Bad Dream – is a Daytime Nightmare. They pop into our consciousness and linger for days at a time consuming our being with fear.
The situation that you are facing right now may be the worst possible scenario that could happen to anyone. It is happening to you. It is not a dream and it won’t go away. You are living it NOW. And it will not leave. Every waking moment it bites at your progress through life.
At this very moment people that I have heard from in the USA and parts of Canada – may lose their homes with the terrible conditions that they face now. There are no jobs or the jobs they had are now history. The struggle that they had for years to keep up mortgage payments and be on time means nothing now. They will lose their homes before the summer time. It has all meant nothing.
In southern Saskatchewan and parts of the middle west of the USA – there is a drought on now. It has been many years since the land has had a good soaking of rain. There simply has been little if any at all. The winter has had little snow in some parts. It is bad.
Yet at the same time the price of grain is high. But these parts will not be able to grow grain at all. As to cattle – it is almost as bad. There isn’t enough water in some parts to let the animals drink. And they all have payments that must be made – or else!
There is a growing sense that we are on the door step of another recession. The “R” word is not being used by any leader yet. But it may happen soon.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address in 1933 as he became President of the USA is powerful when you read it.Quote:
“I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.” End quote.
Placing this address in context is important. In 1933 the whole of our two countries were in a mess with a massive RECESSION. There were no crops. It was much like it is today. People lost their jobs. They lost everything in fact. They walked away from all that they had invested in as to houses and farms and factories.
Up to the time that Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected he had campaigned with a light and almost comical presentation. No one really got to know according to some historians – yet they elected him President.
There was nothing light and easy about the times that he entered. He personally was not broke. He personally lived fairly well. He knew nothing of what the “good people” were going through in a dust eaten area of the mid-west.
He was a politician. Why would he know about what was going? They all seem to be isolated and insolated in many people’s minds. Why would they care?
The problem is…
When you are facing the worst time in your life and career – how can anyone care or even understand your situation? You are not sure you do – so how will they?
The illustration I gave earlier about a Daytime Nightmare is mine. I am frightened to death of some things that are rising in my life. But who will understand? Who actually cares? Who can I tell? The answer I am afraid is – No one..! That is what makes the fear the worst to face…that word “alone”.
In my case I started the battle against fear – by talking to someone. I can’t talk to everyone – just someone. A some “one” is enough. They didn’t have the answers for me – but they had an ear.
So where do we go from here? Frozen to death by the fears that are as real as the hand in front of us – we cannot go. What do you mean “GO” – pastor?
I am going to call on people that I need to listen. In turn they will get me listening to them. Together we will get through this Daytime Nightmare.
The Bible has a powerful statement by an ancient wise man – King Solomon. He said, in Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 (New International Version)
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
You cannot do this alone. Neither can I. Find someone and share the need and accept the care.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Resources:
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address – 1933 http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/
Ecclesiastes 4:11-12
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=25&chapter=4&verse=11&end_verse=13&version=31&context=context
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Sunday, May 04, 2008
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