Fear of Fear

1999-11-1 19:42:00

I hope everyone had a nice Halloween day. Artie and I went to a dance and costume party and we had a good time. She dressed up like Mary Catherine Galliger from Saturday Night Live and I dressed as a Priest (her idea).

Rick - Do you have any word as to when the archives will be up and working again?

Ever since A Course in Miracles was published it seemed that the term "fear based" has been thrown with reckless abandon.

Zina writes:
"And it is interesting because these comments formed the foundation of my disagreement with the Song. I find a beauty in the song, but feel there comes a time when we are capable of standing in the power of who and what we are, that protection is known, an already given, rather than the need to protect and seeing myself separate and requiring protection, which I discovered was really only in regard to my own fear, and thus protection was for holding my energy, rather than draining my energy in the direction of the object I feared. (and thus empowering what I feared!!)

"Truly when we completely let go of fear as a foundation for reaction, yet note its presence and determine its validity if any, then soul/spirit/God is complete protection, and through it's guidance a course of action is determined. Without a like energy of fear resident within me, the distorted energy can but pass through, finding no home here!! Then I am free wherever I be!!"

JJ:
To insinuate that the fine people saying this song are doing so out of a base of fear is, I believe, a judgment in the negative sense. I know Zina wants to stay away from judgments, especially negative ones, so I would like to say a few words about the Song so she and others will cease judging me and others (who enjoy the wording of the song) as acting from a base of fear.

First Verse: We thank you Father that you have revealed to us your protective universal light; that within this light is complete protection from all destructive forces; that the Holy Spirit of Your Presence permeates us in this light, and wherever we will the light to descend.

This is different from the wall of light that Jennifer accurately wrote about. Seeing a wall of light can produce some separateness (not necessarily fear). Instead, the Song calls for a revelation of the Universal Light of God which is already omni-present. The Light is here already, we just need a revelation to become aware of it. A high enough awareness of this light brings "protection from all destructive forces."

Then willing the "light to descend" can transfer some of your awareness of the Light to another who is linked to you through Love.

The second verse reads:

We thank you Father that you fill us with your protective fires of love; that within this love is complete protection from all destructive thoughts and feelings; that the consciousness of Christ is lifted up in us in this love, and wherever we will the love to be enflamed.

Light can be revealed, but Love is a creation in duality among various life forms. In the void of complete oneness there may be peace but there is no love. Love is a creation similar to fire in rubbing two flints together and can only exist where there is more than one. Love is the attractive force between two or more lives. In the case of the Song it is the attractive force between the higher and lower self. When our lower self allows and wills this attraction, the God within then responds and the fires of the inner Love are manifest. When they are manifest to a high degree there is then created "protection from all destructive thoughts and feelings," for such thoughts and feelings flee when such love is present.

The word "protection" seems to be a thorn in the side to many, as if protection is always a fear-based thing. In answer to this I ask: Is it fear based to wear a raincoat to protect you from the elements? When you come home in the evening and your house is on the cold side, is it fear based to turn up the heat to protect you from the cold? Is it fear based to steer your car down the road to protect you from crashing into other cars?

Silly, isn't it? If protection is fear based then there is no way for us to escape fear for we all desire protection in many ways. We do not build a beautiful home (that protects from the elements) out of fear, but common sense people do it for the positive goal of more abundant living.

To see any word in our language as a fear-creating thing is to generate a fear of fear. This brings to mind the famous quote of Roosevelt: "The only thing to fear is fear itself." This phrase was revealed by the Brotherhood to Napoleon Hill who gave it to the President.

If we eliminate the fear of fear then the fear of words will disappear and then we can use even words such as "protection" to our advantage. It is over zealousness that sees the Song as fear based unless one is personally saying it in response to some fear of fear. But even if this is the case, in many instances, the Song will reduce, rather than increase fear.

I am working on a response to Rob's posting and should have that ready tonight.