I am hearing that "F Word Family" spoken a lot lately.  You know, words like fear,  foreboding, faintheartedness, fright and … phobia.  Of course these come very naturally in times like this.  That doesn't mean we should allow them to take control of us though.  This virus thing has not been easy for any of us to reconcile with.  And it has been harder on some than others!

An old phrase comes to my mind, "How shall we then live"?  More accurately, today we are faced with asking ourselves, "How shall we then die"?  You see, when fear takes over, we loose our ability to choose life.  Often the thing which seems right in our own eyes (directed by fear) is actually the thing that gets us.  The consequences of following in fear's footsteps can take us where we do not want to be.

It seems that we are given a "no-win" choice.  The virus or the economy.  When we use the word, economy, it is easier to treat as an afterthought.  Economy is just a blanket name for so many things. Say the word virus though and our ears and senses awaken.  When we change the wording from "economy" to "joblessness, bills, family and all the things life has meant to us in general,"  we realize that neither one can be taken lightly.  If we want easy, we don't have it.  What can we do?  

For the first time in a long time, Americans have been put on notice. We are not invincible. There is more to life than our own feelings, experiences, toys, labels, entertainment and stuff.  But it is NOT the end of the world unless, of course, these things are the only world you know.  A wise pastor once said, "When you come to a wall, climb it and take the next level."  Thank you Pastor Paul for leaving us those words of wisdom.  That is where we are at right now!

Response and reaction.  Two words so similar but there is a world of difference between them.  Both, involve being triggered by an incident … both, counteractions to an event or action which comes our way.  In times of stress, will we be able to control the fear and make choices based on the very best reasoning powers possible?  Or will we, in our troubled state, let fear control and keep us from doing what we can?

How does a first responder decide who to help when they are called onto the scene of an accident?  I will tell you, if there are too many victims they have to make a choice.  They work with the people who they think they can save.  Here's the truth.  Firefighters and paramedics have to be prepared BEFORE they come onto the scene of an accident.  They must make quick decisions as to who they can help and who they can't.  Yes, that means they often must choose who to work with. That is why their job is so hard.  They do what they can.  But if a first responder comes on the scene unprepared and is overcome by fear or panic ...  no one will receive help.  Fear will already make those life/death decisions for them.

This is not a doomsday message.  It's a, think it out well before you commit, message, because there are consequences either way.  We have no easy answer but the future cannot decide for itself.  We have to take courage and move forward, past fear.

This is not a time to feel sorry for ourselves.  No pity parties allowed, unless they are limited to 10 people and who keep the distance of 6 feet between them.  A little attempt at humor.  (Very little in fact, lol)  The American people must be strong now.  How many people will loose their lives from this virus? We don't know but we must weigh that unknown number against another fact we cannot control either, lives lost from depression, stress,  anxiety and addiction over a failed economy system resulting in the loss of jobs and personal livelihood.

Just like an echo, what we send out comes back.  If we send out a shout, "I am afraid," what will return?  Agreement.  Too much agreement between yourself and fear is not good.  You may not feel it, but try shouting out instead:

"God has not given me the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 

 (2 Timothy 1:7)

An echo doesn't choose, it just delivers what it hears.  Choose the voices you listen to carefully.  You become just like them.