I have been thinking lots lately about 1 John 4:18. “Love has no fear, because perfect love casts out all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
When we are courageous we will face off with fear. Courage is not the absence of fear but the choose for something greater than it.
When courage is the choice, we impact the space and narratives of others around us.
How they respond reveals a lot about them, and us. Listen to the differenet voices about the USA President Trump right now. Whatever we think, he is choosing courage over comfort that’s for sure and it is impacting our spaces and narratives!
The thing about fear is that it shows what level of love we have experienced and what level of love we are in need of.
When I connect with fear to others showing up and letting themselves be seen, it is never pretty. Fear never reveals the best of us.
When we reach for punishment as a way of managing our fear or shame, it’s even less pretty. Slander, disconnection, threats, withholding kindness and civility.
The sad thing is that we hurt ourselves the most when we choose punishment as our response.
Sadly most of the cultures we live in daily are cultures of punishment not love nor courage. They are cultures and actions driven by self interest and as a result they become selfish, entitling and narcissistic.
And not safe.
Are we raising our children on a culture of courage or punishment?
Are we nurturing friendships, work or church environments in cultures of fear or courage?
Love is vulnerable. Love is not self seeking. Love covers not exposes. Love speaks truth civilly. Love hurts and it suffers. Love is kind, messy and celebrates the courage of those around them to show up and let themselves be seen.
This is love’s manners and it will always have courage around it.
Maya Angelou says “Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”
So will we show up and let ourselves be seen? Will we pursue love or continue with punishing behaviours and fear, when others choose courage over comfort.
Love casts out fear. Fear casts out courage. Own your story. If fear is owning you, take you back.
Choose courage.
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Want more courage?
Read my blog http://all4him.org/2017/12/04/ordinarycourage
