A week or so before I was to turn 52 I was walking across the wide open fields of the Dutch countryside, alone, not another soul as far as the eye could see. As I wandered and wondered, a phrase drifted across the landscape of my mind and has lingered there ever since – unlearning fear. How have I been unlearning fear? How does anyone unlearn fear? First we have to understand how carefully constructed, how very profitable the fear is to the powers that be. So that is my exploration for the prayer, prompts, prose and practices for March…unlearning fear.
Oh Lord
We are a world
In love with fear
And afraid of love
The powerful pad their pockets
peddling fear to control the people
Be afraid, they say
And your creation
cowers behind
the great lie of scarcity
Be very afraid, they say
For those
With greedy minds
and clenched fists
shouting “Be afraid!”
I pray,
Be not afraid
For those
With terrorized hearts
And shuttered spirits
echoing “Be afraid.”
I pray,
Be not afraid
For those
with open wounds
and tear-streaked souls
crying “I am afraid.”
I pray,
Be not afraid
Gracious and loving God
free us from the myth of
fear of the other
fear of ourselves
fear of the known
fear of unknown
fear of loving
fear of losing
fear of living
fear of dying
and open us to the Truth
of abundance
of peace
of love
Amen
