These words — Be afraid. Be VERY afraid — are usually said in jest. Usually.
A reflection by Danny Nelson Schweers for November 17, 2024.
You may remember these words from television ads for a 1986 horror movie, The Fly. In that movie our experimenting hero is accidentally teleported along with a house fly, tragically mixing the DNA of the two. Our hero slowly becomes a grotesque insect with inhuman cravings. The moral is “Don’t experiment with teleportation!” — something I have avoided to this day.
Everywhere we turn, we are told to be afraid but seldom in jest. Shall I show you a list of things we are told to fear? No? I didn’t think so.
With four years of philosophical training under my belt — my ever-lengthening belt — my reaction to being scared is to wonder why people want to scare me. What is in it for them? Why do they want me to be afraid? That’s my question. What have they to gain?
Directors of horror movies, writers of scary books, builder of roller coasters, these I respect. I am sympathetic to the idea that we are hard-wired to be afraid and, if we lack real threats, fictionalized threats are harmless outlets.
Philosophically sophisticated as I am, thinking myself above the tumult, I see no need to imagine things to be afraid of. I see no need to buy into the fears marketed by others. We face plenty of real threats, right? Pride. Envy. Laziness. Hate. Selfishness. Missing love’s possibilities and avoiding love’s responsibilities. Forgetting to be thankful. All the things that separate us from what is good. Do you need a list? No? I didn’t think so.
I am a cynical guy. I see a world full of fools buying into false fears, forgetting the real ones. And I fear I may be the bigger fool, the fool who cannot see his own foolishness. It alarms me! Should I be afraid? Should I be VERY afraid?
Years ago, recognizing my cynicism, Presbyterian minister George Soltau encouraged me to take to heart Philippians 4:4-9.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.”
I like that. Have no anxiety. The Lord is at hand. The God of peace is with us. Excellent!
______________________
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Danny chairs SsAM’s Communication Committee. He is an active photographer and writer. Click here to visit his website and make a comment.
See all of Danny’s reflections on this website.
