I can stand what I know. It's what I don't know that frightens me. -- Frances Newton
Fear of the unknown, often referred to as free-floating anxiety, catches up to us on occasion. But it needn't. The program offers us strength whenever we need it, and faith diminishes all fear. It is said that fear cannot exist where there is faith.
We have many days when we feel strong, in touch with our higher power, able to meet all situations. On those days, we are seldom conscious of how our faith is guiding us. But the hours of fear that we experience on other days make us aware of faith's absence. There is a simple solution: We can reach out to a friend. We can be attentive to our friend's needs, and the connection to God will be made.
Shifting our focus, from self-centered fears to another person's needs, offers us a perspective on our own life. It also offers us a chance to let God work through us. Our own faith is strengthened each time we offer our services to God and to a friend in need. What may frighten us seems less important the closer we are to the people in our lives.
When I touch someone else, God touches me in return.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Loved this reading. Awe the days where Faith can be found right there with us. And then those days when somehow fear wants to start the day. I agree Fear and Faith cannot co-exist. So in this Dilemma, I use the Blind Faith Approach. Believe it still there, just obsured from my own consciouness, only a temporary moment in time. Trust God that this Faith will return, and when I complete Trust God that it will Return, there it is. And as you said, we do need to work for it, with the tools of the Program. 12th Step work, right there, can be done in a heartbeat. Reach out to another, share your Faith in God, and then share you Faith in them. So very simple, only an Alcoholic Brain wants to complicate this simple stuff.
And I am a Recovery Alcoholic, so that work will always, always be there, there is no graduation ceremony, and the Disease is just like a spooky boogie man, watching just behind us, and Thank God, God is watching over all of it, and guiding us forward. Diligence always, thank you dear for that Simple Reminder, Fear of the Unknown, well if you look at it that way, then every single tomorrow can hold that thought, or we can add Faith to the Equation, and be glad that tomorrow holds a wonderful Mystery.
