Controlled by Fear

[Tweet “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. –Franklin Delano Roosevelt”]

Watching television or looking at social media, one thing becomes obvious.  Too many of us are allowing ourselves to be controlled by fear. You only have to watch the rise of Donald Trump to realize that fear is ruling far too many of us.

One of the ironic things about this, in my opinion, is that Donald Trump is using the slogan “Make America Great Again.” while using a politics of fear to get votes. Yet no nation can truly reach it’s highest potential if it’s citizens are living in fear.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
–Frank Herbert

It’s not just Donald Trump’s followers who are living in fear. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). On Saturday night, at the semi-annual women’s meetings, a new initiative was announced. The initiative, Strangers No More, is to encourage women of the church to help refugees around the world. I was so proud to see the leaders of the church encouraging members not to fear the refugees but to aid them. The fearful responses I have seen on social media from members of the LDS church have been disappointing. I wish I could say that I am surprised but I am not. Fear is controlling us.

Members of the LDS Church are not the only Christians to be exhibiting such fear. Fear of immigrants and fear of refugees seems to be strong among Christians these days, even though the New Testament is very clear that we should not be living in fear.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
–1 John 4:18 – 20

We, as a people, are not meant to fear. We are meant to love. Yet too many of our leaders are encouraging us to fear. What we need to do is learn to overcome our fears.

Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here. –Marianne Williamson

We need to learn to reject that fear. The best way to do this is to learn more about that which makes us fearful. Are we afraid of refugees? Then let’s learn more about the refugees that are coming to our shores. Where do the refugees come from? Why are they coming here? How can we help them. Are we afraid of Muslims? Then let’s learn more about their faith and what they really believe. All Muslims are not terrorists and we need to learn more about what the faith truly teaches. Whenever we fear, we need to learn more.

We would also benefit from learning about how realistic our beliefs may be. In 2014 alone, there were 32,675 vehicle fatalities in the United States compared to the 45 deaths that have occurred since 9/11 on American soil. It is quite clear that Americans are in far more danger from vehicles than we are from Islanic terrorists, yet I never hear anyone calling for a complete ban of cars from the United States. We really need to be realistic about the threats we are facing. Doing so will help us overcome our fears.

I am constantly saddened by the way I see fear controlling our lives. The way we allow it to make bad decisions. The way it makes us act in negative ways. Let’s start learning more about that which we fear so that we can stop fears from controlling us.

What do you think we can do stop our fears from controlling us? I’d love to hear your ideas.