Lost and Finding Joy

Is something bad coming this year? I’m sure you’ve heard some rumors too. Earthquakes, World War III, or maybe another viral virus is own it’s way. I’m old enough to remember when the world was going to collapse in the year 2000 (Y2K). I was scared to go to work that week. I was working in one of the tallest buildings in downtown Memphis, and I was afraid our computers were going to explode or something. I thought: Maybe we would get trapped if the power grid shuts down. Panic could set in and we wouldn’t be able to get home. Nothing happened. Then the world was going to end in 2012, according to the Maya calendar predictions; whatever that is. I didn’t study it, I just heard about it. It’s 13 1/2 years later, and we’re still here. I know things are happening around us. I can see it and feel it too. But, the truth is, we can’t predict the future. How many times do we fear things that never come to pass? They say it’s about 98% of the time, and the 2% isn’t as bad as we think it will be.

My dad has always taught me not to fear anything. I’m still working on it. I don’t fear much, but the other day we did have an average sized earthquake. No pictures fell off my wall, because I was about 30 miles from the center of it. I think I was afraid because I thought there was an explosion downstairs, and my daughter was down there. I also had three of my grandchildren with me, and I didn’t know what was happening for that 10 seconds. My heart rate finally went back to normal, and everything was fine. I found out later that my other daughter and daughter-in-law were in the center of it. They did have pictures fall, and it scared them, but all was fine. Thank goodness we weren’t “warned” of this event coming. We would’ve all feared this event for months or days prior. It just came, and we all dealt with it as it happened.

I asked my Dad, “How do you do it? How do you not fear things?” He said, “You have to trust yourself. You have to trust that no matter what comes your way, you will be able to handle it when it happens.” My Mom says, “Just cross bridges when you get to them.” Fear is a liar, like the song says, (Fear Is A Liar, by Zach Williams). It is False Evidence Appearing Real. Our minds will blow things way out of proportion.

Our bodies don’t know the difference between a real event and a thought. They’ve done experiments about this. When someone plays the piano in their minds, or actually plays the piano, the same brain patterns fire and wire. When someone works out physically in their minds (like lifting weights), or actually works out physically, the same thing happens. The brain fires and wires the same and the body responds. It’s important to know this. When we are under a lot of stress or fear, our bodies create blockages which causes dis – ease or disease. There is nothing good about fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

What we visualize and feel, is what we experience. We want to keep our thoughts focused on what we are grateful for. We want to direct our thoughts to what we would love to happen. We also want to focus on what we would love to be, do, and have. There is a famous quote by Henry David Thoreau. It says, “It’s not what you look at that matters; it’s what you see.” Mr. Rogers, a children’s show host in the 60’s-early 2000’s, shared advice from his mother. She taught him, “When you see scary things on the news, look for the helpers.”

Most fears never happen. According to the experts, it’s only about 2%. The 2% that does happen, usually isn’t as bad as our minds would’ve imagined. Trust yourself to face whatever comes. We are not alone; we can manage challenges. Our time is valuable, so don’t waste it worrying about unlikely events. If they do occur, you can handle them as you cross those bridges.

For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not;
I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13)

~Many blessings to you and yours.