We’ve been having some strange weather here in Cincinnati lately. I cannot remember a summer where we had this much rain. There has been flooding, electrical storms, and crazy clouds rushing in quickly. As we left the grocery store last night the majority of the employees were standing near the doors and you’d have thought the end of days was here. They were all staring up at the sky and forecasting their gloomy interpretations of what was about to happen. As I pushed the cart into the parking lot, my wife Allison and the kids ran ahead of me. I looked up and saw what the big hullabaloo was all about. Then I grabbed my phone and clicked a picture. Maybe the end was near – or maybe it was just going to rain.
I’ve looked at this photo a lot since I took it last night and for some reason I keep thinking of fear rather than rain. Those dark clouds creeping in over us caused a lot of panic for people even though deep down we all knew what would be behind them…little droplets of water.
So many of the interactions we have in our lives are the result of fear. Someone says something to us that threatens us in some way and we often react out of fear. We don’t want our kids to be less than some other kids and so we make excuses for them…out of fear. We aren’t as strong as someone else and so we quit to hide our weaknesses because we are afraid to fail.
Certain fears are good and rational.
You should be afraid to touch the stove.
You should be afraid to run out into traffic.
But so many of our fears are not good – not rational. This is not how things should be. We have been given freedom. A freedom to experience joy and peace and love without withholding. A freedom to choose and a freedom to feel the safety that we have. Safety is not the opposite of risk. We’re meant to live lives of risk and danger and adventure. Safety is the opposite of fear. We’re meant to have security in the most important thing of all and if we have a blessed assurance in that, then we’re set. We’ll always be okay. The covenant will never be taken away from us.
We are free. That’s the only way we can truly be safe, vulnerable, risky, or afraid.
I’m reminded of this passage from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity:
God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go either wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata–creatures that worked like machines–would hardly be worth creating. The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they must be free.
Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently He thought it worth the risk.
You are free.
Free to take risks. Free to not be as good at something. Free to fail.
You are free to let go of fear.
Be safe,
Ryan
Beautifully written. Thanks for sharing!
{reply}
Well said! Thanks!
{reply}
This entry spoke to me in ways noone can ever comprehend – it’s exactly what I needed to see today. I can’t thank you enough Ryan!
{reply}
[insert an introspective comment about the fear I realize chokes me] giggle out loud
I love the dramatic photo and the thought…
this fear i will throw away today but unfortunately I know I’m not prepared to fight it off when it comes back attached as it’s parasitical self on the back of a genuine snafu..
{reply}
[...] This Is Reverb » Darkness Looming… thisisreverb.com/2010/06/darkness-looming.html – view page – cached We’ve been having some strange weather here in Cincinnati lately. I cannot remember a summer where we had this much rain. There has been flooding, electrical storms, and crazy clouds rushing in quickly. As we left the grocery store last night the majority of the employees were standing near the doors and you’d have thought the end of days was here. They were all staring up at the sky and… Read moreWe’ve been having some strange weather here in Cincinnati lately. I cannot remember a summer where we had this much rain. There has been flooding, electrical storms, and crazy clouds rushing in quickly. As we left the grocery store last night the majority of the employees were standing near the doors and you’d have thought the end of days was here. They were all staring up at the sky and forecasting their gloomy interpretations of what was about to happen. As I pushed the cart into the parking lot, my wife Allison and the kids ran ahead of me. I looked up and saw what the big hullabaloo was all about. Then I grabbed my phone and clicked a picture. View page Tweets about this link Topsy.Data.Twitter.User['allaynawinkler'] = {“photo”:”http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/994802291/Photo_on_2010-06-15_at_11.51__2_normal.jpg”,”url”:”http://twitter.com/allaynawinkler”,”nick”:”allaynawinkler”}; allaynawinkler: “RT @DetzelPretzel: This Is Reverb » Darkness Looming… http://bit.ly/dtCFiq ” 28 minutes ago retweet Topsy.Data.Twitter.User['detzelpretzel'] = {“photo”:”http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/758046995/ThatBeMeWeb_normal.jpg”,”url”:”http://twitter.com/detzelpretzel”,”nick”:”detzelpretzel”}; detzelpretzelInfluential: “This Is Reverb » Darkness Looming… http://bit.ly/dtCFiq ” 37 minutes ago retweet Filter tweets [...]
I actually think that post was sent from God directly to me today. Kind of speachless.
Thank you.
{reply}
This…is a perfect post for today. Thank you.
{reply}
Great reminder — put so eloquently.
{reply}
Yep, preaching via blog is one of your greatest gifts, and a blessing to us all that read it.
I’d like to share another quote with you, not specifically about faith, but about fear and failure:
“Our society has a mentality that failure is always a bad thing. The truth is that excellence often involves some setback. Success isn’t always about reaching some end point or end position. It’s about having a passion for what you do. It’s a journey as opposed to a goal.” – Rodney Smith, 2003 IBM Fellow
I’ve always thought this quote to be some of the best advice for life in general. I need to have a passion for serving my Lord, and to not worry that I might mess that up or not serve Him “right.”
{reply}
Thanks; I needed this today!
{reply}
LOVE this post. Thanks for sharing. You have a true talent for saying a lot in a relatively short space. I needed to read this today. God Bless
PS – From a fellow photography enthusiast – amazing photo!!
{reply}
we had it here in Indiana too, got some cool pics just need to upload them
{reply}
I just love your blog. I read it every day, though this is my first time commenting. Your post today was just perfect- it really struck a chord with me. Thank you for the inspiring words, and for the lovely, hopeful point of view.
{reply}
That was beautiful Ryan. It’s something I really needed to hear right now. How true. Thank you! BTW, that sky is amazing! I mean, a little creepy, yet amazing!
{reply}
I hope you receive as much blessing from your blog as you give. I think you use your gifts well.
{reply}
Now is that touchdown Jesus getting struck? I heard it got struck and burned to the ground! I can’t imagine driving down I-75 and not seeing it!
{reply}
I really needed to hear this today. I have been struggling with fear a great deal since I have gone back to grad school to get my PhD. In the face of constant pressure to look and act a certain way, conduct successful research, and (most importantly) get published, I have reacted by retreating out of fear. The saddest part is that, because of my fear, I had some how forgotten the loving comfort of my Savior.
In the past week, God has been reawakening me with his love, but encouraging me to continue these pursuits for his glory. No, it is not safe, but I can do all things who Christ who strengthens me. Your post is another reminder of this for me. God bless you.
{reply}
Thank you so much for this! I start a new job on Monday, my dream job in fact, and I’ve been worried that I won’t be up to the task and dreading the “not knowing what I’m doing” that comes with starting any new job. But. I am choosing to trust that God will give me the strength and mental clarity to begin orientation. I know that He led me to this job, that He brought all of these details together, and it won’t be for nothing. As long as I focus on bringing Him glory through this new career path, I think I’ll be OK.
{reply}
Like so many others have said, God put your words in front of my face today and wow, did I need them.
Thanks for being obedient. He rewarded that.
{reply}
This was beautifully written. I’ve been reading your blog for a while, and I think this is one of my favorite posts. Very well done.
P.S. I live in Washington state, and our weather has been just like yours. Lots of rain, lots of clouds. You wouldn’t know it was summer here.
{reply}
Thank you for the reminder that all dark clouds pass. Think I’ll go wack mine with some free will today.
{reply}
So inspired! So direct and true! So simple! So HUGE!
So thankful to you!
{reply}
I don’t get why so many people seem to think an omnipotent god, an almighty creator of mankind has only 2 options as far as human minds go – robotic machines programmed to do right or complete freedom to do wrong. Seriously, if a god is so all-knowing and wise, he/she would have no trouble at all in finding a middle ground, something in between the two extremes, where certain negative elements of society would have some sort of leash put on their wickedness while those with the average ability to stay away from full-out eveil would continue to have the option to make their own decisions. I mean, come on, between black and white there are zillions of shades of grey…
{reply}
Thank you. I needed that.
{reply}
[...] This Is Reverb » Darkness Looming… [...]
God is obviously trying to tell me something because I have heard so much on this subject from every direction lately. It started with a God’s Money segment on WAY FM, then our pastor had a lesson on Get over your BS (Belief Systems) and it was on God giving us freedom (cbglades.com) and now your post. I’ll be honest, I’m not able to get on here a lot since the site was blocked at work
, but I decided to check it out tonight and here’s a post on fear and freedom. Ah, and it just hit me that I read Matthew tonight with Jesus and the disciples in the boat, Be not afraid. Sometimes God may be subtle, but I think he’s yelling at me. Thank you.
{reply}
You just summed up my psychological setbacks in one post, my friend.
{reply}
Going through some huge and unwanted changes in our life right now. I really needed to hear this today. Thank you.
{reply}
This is great. What a good reminder – I always enjoy your photos & writing.
{reply}
wonderful messge…so very true…thanks for the reminder.
{reply}
I am a Roman Catholic church-goer. Every Sunday since I was 2 weeks old. And have never looked outside of my particular church, until I was introduced to your site. You have the most wonderful sermons- I share them with my family and friends regularly (I hope that’s okay!). I call you my “daily inspiration”! Thank you for helping me contemplate my faith in new and different ways.
Oh, and may I say that your children are SO adorable!!!
{reply}
Mmmmm…..very good.
{reply}
Beautiful quote!
{reply}
[...] read this post by my friend Jen which closely resembles how I am feeling right now. I loved this picture and this quote. I read this and wondered about the doors that are opening….or closing….for [...]
work from home online through working at home on the internet, you can earn money from home or online with a work at homejob,opportunity or business.
{reply}