Let’s dig a little deeper into fear as a distraction.
Last time I talked about how fear tried to derail my 1500-mile Mississippi River ride. Let’s be honest – who wouldn’t be afraid at the beginning of a project that crazy?
What about those everyday occurrences?
I have neighbors – we’ve lived on the same street for years. I recognize them, wave to them, even say a perfunctory “Hello”. Some of them even know my name and my dog’s name.
But I don’t know their names, and the introvert in me is afraid to say, “I’m sorry, but I’ve forgotten your names.”
I commit to loving my neighbor – and fear tells me it’s too embarrassing to admit I don’t know their names.
Jesus told a parable about bags of gold. The key statement:
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
He says this to two men, one given quite a bit and the other much less. He condemned one man who hoarded what he was given – out of fear.
To me, this parable says it’s great to step out, take a big risk in faith, accomplish something amazing. But…
What did I do with the “small,” everyday interactions? Did I bury that that single bag out of fear?
When I allow fear to distract me, I sometimes hear a “CLANG” in my head, related to this verse:
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
Same idea – the big stuff is great, but if you don’t love your neighbor…
CLANG!
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What are the “small” occurrences, the single bags of gold, you tend to bury because you’re afraid?