Fear

I admire the spirit and determination in daughter. She is so exciting. More importantly, she is fearless. I remember when we were at a family reunion at a local park and she climbed some monkey bars. She climbed to the top. She was only two. I was so nervous!!!! She stood up straight on top of the monkey bars and saw a ball on the ground. I could not get to her fast enough. She dove for the ball and bumped her nose and mouth on the monkey bars. Blood was everywhere! My heart was pounding. I was crying. I rushed to pick her up. When I picked her up….she began to squirm for me to put her down. I thought that she had broken a bone or something. She was determined to get the ball. She got the ball and did not acknowledge the fall, the busted gums or the bleeding nose. She was jumping up and down. She was so happy that she got the ball! She walked around the entire afternoon with her chest out because she got a ball. She was determined and fearless. She saw something that she wanted. She believed that she could get it. She saw an open opportunity and she went head first. She had some bumps and bruises along the way, but she got what she wanted. I wanted her to play it safe. I would have just given her the ball. (We all know that anything worth having is worth working for.) As soon as I saw her on top of the monkey bars, I thought about everything bad that could happen. She could fall and break her arm, or have a serious head injury. Even when she got the ball, I was fixed on the blood and the bruises. I did not celebrate her victory!!!! I did not view it as a victory until now!!!! I have a new respect for success and victory. I have a new perspective on fear.





Why is it that we are more comfortable with complaining than we are with change or something new? I see this spirit of fear so prevalent in our black community. Fear is paralyzing the black community, more specifically the Christian community. We have been told for so long that we should not be more than what we are and it has been embedded in our spirits, unknowingly. When we, as a people, recognize that fear is not of God, then we will overcome. Until that moment of revelation, we will continue to have the disparities in our community. I have family members that get upset or afraid when they hear that someone else is “doing good.” A negative comment must follow. To contrast, when separation, arguments or financial woes are mentioned, ears, eyes and mouths are eager for the news. Why??????? Why????? Why are we so afraid of peace, love and happiness? Why are we afraid that others, more specifically, our own family and friends have the possibility of being happy???? It is simply the old Willie Lynch theory at work in our spirits, “DIVIDE AND CONQUER!” You can read more about the infamous Willie Lynch speech of 1712 on how to keep control of slaves by visiting http://www.africanamericanimages.com/aai/Willie%20Lynch.htm. The philosophy and tactics of Willie Lynch have been passed down from generation to generation. His perspective on enslavement appoints paranoia as the master of chaos in the black community.



Fear has a stronghold on our community. How can this stronghold be broken? I believe that through honesty and repentance, fear can be removed from one’s thinking. Dictionary.com describes fear as “a distressing emotion aroused by impeding danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.” There is such a deep meaning in the definition of fear…...”whether the threat is real or imagined.” We are more fearful of things or issues that are not a threat to us. We are fearful of things/situations that should uplift us. Our community has a deep phobia of success. Our community is in a state of paranoia. To contrast, we are not fearful of God and His commandments. To be fearful is to doubt God. Almost every book in the Bible has the commandment, “fear not.” I believe that God is commanding us to have complete faith in Him. Doubting God is undoubtedly a sin and constant sin will lead to a quick death…..a quick spiritual death. In Matthew 21:21-22, Jesus said, “Verily, I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." I believe this. Furthermore, I do not want to live my life in constant paranoia. I want to love and to experience love. I want to experience peace and wealth. I want my increase before I die. I believe that some people are comfortable with struggling on earth because they are fixed on the “Sweet Bye and Bye!” I am fixed on the “Sweet Bye and Bye,” but I want my goodies today! LOL!!!! I know that He will do it for me because I believe.



My daughter initiated the break of the stronghold with her little tumble. To this day, she is fearless. She looks forward to challenges. She has scars, bruises, and missing teeth (LOL!!) that symbolize her ignorance to fear, belief in herself, and the evidence of God within her. Although she is a young girl and may not fully understand her position in this world, her attitude and heart is that of a mighty warrior that is blinded by faith. I pray that I will continue to witness and absorb her attitude. I pray that nothing will hinder her spirit. Most of all, I pray that this word will bless others to pass it along so the spirit of faith, courage, victory and success will prevail.