Driving Out Fear

First of all it's been entirely too long. And that is completely my fault. Hopefully we can pick back up where we left, as old friends do. I can't begin to catch up on all the happenings since November, so I'll begin with the present. Last week one of the readings from mass was 1 John 4:18 "there is no fear in love". This message has always stuck with me, and in a lot of ways puzzled me. In my experience there is plenty to fear in love. In many cases, love is associated with fear, fear of suffering pain because of love.  Adele gets it as she beautifully belts "sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead". Hurts is a weak word for the pain I've both experienced and witness in others in the name of love. 

Good reminder in our newly remodeled house.  It's what gets us through. 

So then one has to ask, whats the remedy or root of this? Is is better to become a critique, a distant bystander that bitterly holds on to the memory of that pain as reminder to not wander of the road of safety? But, is that safe path really better? I am currently reading "The gift of Imperfection" and while many of the messages portrayed in this writing speak truth, one particular truth settled deep with me. It's the idea that you can't stifle one emotion, without stifling all. I can never live fully alive, or experience real love if I repress the pain, and at the same time, being closed to true vulnerability doesn't ensure a lack of pain, but promises a life of numbness. 

What I find interesting in myself and in some of my closest loved ones, is even in we understand this fact, living it out in day to day life and thoughts is all together different. If repression, fear and worry are our automatic responses and mindsets, even though we know happiness is the goal, anxiety and over-thinking is still the comfort zone. Happiness and venerability are unfamiliar and therefore feared. 

One of my favorite ways to clear my mind-running

The classroom of silence is a powerful place. Many people are so uncomfortable with silence maybe because there is a lot of unresolved issues in our hearts that easily rise up in a peaceful place, because they are contrary to the surrounding. In my experience it's a good indicator that I'm in need of healing when the silence becomes uncomfortable. In that space between the silence and our reaction we have a choice. That space is what separates people into those who strive to live fully alive and those who choose to ignore or skim the surface of whats happening within and ultimately in life. That space is powerful, because it gives us the chance to choose and maybe if we choose time and time again to be vulnerable, to resist the power of fear and the comfort of worry. To break the shell that makes us fearful of love. If we could allow our Father to wipe away the guilt and that voice telling us we are unworthy of love and unworthy of happiness, we can start to have room to listen to a different voice. One calling us to joy. Not to a life free of suffering but to a perfect love. A love that drives out fear. 

Beautiful place of silence at the Chapel of St. Basil

Sounds simple right? Probably not, but I'm going to keep trying it and your welcome to join the party :) 

Thanks for stopping by dear. Lets make this happen more. 

Take Care, 

Carly Rose