Truth And Fear

Information is not fear. Ignorance is not bliss.

Fear is a potential response to information.
Lack of information, or ignorance, may seem to be more free from fear. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.

But might be that you’re fearing something else. Like maybe the boogeyman, your current bedfellow, or even the information itself. The thing is, Information requires or invites some kind of response.

One time, as the story goes, at our family’s cabin up in the woods, an unexpected visitor showed up on the front porch. While the women were in the kitchen having a nice leisurely morning coffee, a large black bear came knocking at the door. All who were wake screamed when they realized what it was looming in the doorway. I’m not sure if the latch was already locked beforehand, but it sure was then. Those bears are known for getting in cars, opening doors, walking into places and wreaking havoc -at least when it comes to finding food and making a grand, grand mess of things. No one really wants to stick around for that.

So yes, the women screamed. They were startled and surprised. But they did something. They didn’t need to only feel afraid and run to hide in a closet somewhere. They didn’t need to “relax, drink their coffee, there’s nothing to worry about”, either. They needed to make sure the door was shut and locked. That they had done their part to ensure a more positive result. It was a simple task that was required if them, but an important one.

Not knowing there’s a bear at your door doesn’t make one wiser, even if not afraid.

If there’s something going on, a nuisance or a menace knocking at your door, there’s something you can do to protect yourself and your family, you do it. You figure it out and you do it. You don’t close your ears and eyes, nor blindly run and hide.

Sometimes it’s helpful or you need to know what and who is there. That’s where information comes in. Is it a friend or a foe? Someone had to walk to the door to see what was going on. Did a neighbor come with cookies to deliver, or was it a bear looking for theirs? Sometimes it might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You need to find out, figure it out, and respond accordingly. You’ll need to get up from your bed, or your coffee, look around to see what’s around and what’s arrived. You’ll use your senses to asses the situation. The information you gather lets you know what’s going on. That’s what information does. It informs you of something. You don’t need to open up, or leave the door unlocked.

You can know what what something is without inviting it in.

Sometimes you can’t see what’s going on exactly.
You can’t tell from inside. You might have to go out. That’s where you might need a little more research.

This summer we went on a night walk, looking for “monsters.” Of course we knew there weren’t any monsters. Not like our kids were thinking anyway. But as an adult, you know there are other kinds. We looked, we kept up our flashlight, we stuck together. We didn’t fear. And we enjoyed it. In our hearts, we weren’t really looking for monsters, we were looking for love. And we already found that, there together. We didn’t need monsters to confirm anything we didn’t already know. We were held, we were safe, we were loved. Our eyes were wide open, and we were not to be afraid.

You find more of what you’re looking for.
Spend a lot more time looking for Love.

In seeking information, seek Truth, try to not be overwhelmed. You can search for truth and still find a lot of lies. And a lot of fear.
Fear likes to try to come on the heels of information and make you loose heart, loose your mind.

There one more thing. The most important one.

✨✨Search for Jesus in the midst of everything.✨✨✨

When something bad is knocking at your door (or the door of your heart, most importantly)- be it any foe, bear, fear, or anything else of potential danger- you don’t need to open up. Especially to the door of your heart. You can know you’re surrounded. You sit and drink coffee in peace, knowing you have responded appropriately according to what you discerned. And what you have discerned most of all, is this Truth.

He’s the one beside you, the voice behind you. He’s the lock on the door of you heart. He is your strong tower, your firm foundation, the wall around you. Know that He’s got your back. Snuggle in to His side and get that warm embrace.

“I will not be afraid of the terror at night nor the arrow that flies by day.” Nothing ever takes Him by surprise, and you can trust Him. Even more than you trust yourself, your intuition, or even that lock that you placed on your door. Remember that.

Don’t close a blind eye, don’t be overwhelmed. See not just what “is” happening. But what is HE doing. Search WITH HIM. Search FOR HIM. Be a part of the change that HE in His goodness, wants to bring.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.

Real Love doesn’t have fear. Real Truth doesn’t either.
You’re out there with your Papa.
Searching. With your strong tower.
No matter what you find, you’re together.
THAT makes all the difference,

The opposite of fear is not ignorance or bliss.
It’s courage. You’re not out there, going it all alone.
That makes all the difference.