I love to walk! It is truly one of my very favorite things to do. So I usually
make it a point to get out of the house daily and have a trek through my
neighborhood. And the other morning as I was walking down the street, minding my
own business, a large German Shepard mix bolted out of nowhere snarling,
snapping and growling. This dog meant business!
So, there I was, standing stock-still, as that menacing dog approached me
steadily - teeth showing with a low mean growl - and it appeared he had every
intention of biting me. I looked around for his owner, but the street was
completely deserted. And before I had time to really even think about it,
something akin to indignation rose up in me. I thought "This is my neighborhood!
Who do you think you are?" I just couldn't believe the audacity of that stupid,
ugly dog, to think he was going to bite me on my street, in my neighborhood!
So, I charged toward him a step or two and yelled "BACK OFF!" And I can tell you
I meant it. And he knew I meant it. He sullenly took a few steps back, letting
me pass without incident.
This was a real victory for me, because as a child I was bitten several times by
neighborhood dogs and I had developed a real fear of dogs. And it's only been in
the last few years that I had felt some relief of these fears. But this was the
pinnacle of my success. The interesting part being, that my fears only seemed to
diminish when I allowed myself to become outraged and angry at that stupid, ugly
dog (and in reality at my stupid, ugly fears).
Fear is a bully that preys on the wounded. Fear will take a past event from your
life - something that caused trauma, hurt, injury, or wounded-ness - and
capitalize on it, until the fear is so blown out of proportion that it doesn't
even resemble the initial event. For many years my fear of dogs dominated my
walks. Even if I came upon a friendly tail-wagging dog, my heart would start to
pound and I would literally have to stop myself from running home at full speed
(now how would that look - a grown women running in frenzied terror from a
friendly, galloping Golden Retriever?)
I had a victory the other day on my walk and it's gotten me thinking about the
other fears I want to conquer in my life. I believe God has put courage in each
one of us - but it's up to each individual to "unearth" it and put it into
action. And just like that stupid, ugly dog thought he would take some of my
territory for his own, I wonder what other fears in my life have taken over
territory that belongs to me?
Maybe it's time to start putting our foot down when our fears begin to loom,
threatening to cast dark shadows of doom over our days and nights. Yes, it's
true that we do live in a fearful time, but the fears DO NOT have the power to
dominate our hearts and minds. And because we do live in a tumultuous time, let
that be the catalyst that drives us deeper into our relationship with God. He is
the source of all courage and bravery, so we would do well by spending time with
him each day. When we determine to put God first, filling up with his word, we
will find ourselves fortified and able to say with confidence to those lying,
looming fears; BACK OFF!
Paula Friedrichsen
pjfministries@hotmail.com
Paula Friedrichsen is a Christian speaker and newspaper columnist from Mammoth
Lakes, California. Her seminar, "The Abundant Life" is a three-fold teaching
designed to lead people into greater fulfillment - spiritually, physically, and
relationally. To find out more about this seminar or other topics that Paula
presents, visit her website at
www.pfministries.com or call her at 760-935-4295
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