On Sunday, March 21, 2010 the US Congress took another step towards the president’s goal of health care for the uninsured. Rather than end the fighting in Washington this latest partisan move has defined clear battle lines along which people of many ideologies are now locked in heated battle. One weapon which both sides seem content to use is fear. They create perceptions of the “worse case scenario” that will occur if their obviously righteous path is not taken. Although much of it is all noise to me, it does put me in the mind of some of my favorite quotes about managing fear. I thought I would share them with you in hopes they might help clear your mind and allow you to see things as they are.
The Science Fiction fans among you may remember this quote from Frank Herbert’s Dune (1965). “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” I really like that one. Fear is the mind killer. Find a successful person in any walk of life, and you will find someone who has dealt with their fear.
Programmers among you, at least old school Visual C++ programmers, may remember the late David J. Kruglinski (1947 – 1997). David was a C++ / MFC programmer and author who died in a paragliding accident at the age of 49. At the end of the last C++ book he wrote for Microsoft Press (Inside Visual C++ 4th Edition) is a quote from Lowell Skoog, a paragliding buddy. “It is said that when Tibetans face danger, when they are about to cross a dodgy avalanche slope or a swollen river, they shout, ‘Everyone alive today will be dead in a hundred years, so why be afraid?’ David was like that, but without shouting.” I love this quote because it asks a very important question. Is a life better because of its length or because of its richness and quality. With admiration I can say we at least know how David answered that question.
The bible is a limitless source of strength against every enemy you may encounter. This of course includes fear. Perhaps nowhere is it said better than in Psalm 23, verse 4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;” It is a reminder that althought God asks us to be resolute in the face of fear, he does not ask us to do so alone. He is always with us, always by our side, always there to light our way in trouble times. I find that a very comforting message.
Do you have another favorite quote about fear? If so, post a comment and share it with me.
