Minister's Message

Hello Family,

Fear is a powerful emotion. It can motivate people and communities to behave in ways that upon later reflection seem irrational and self-destructive. We all have things we fear. Individuals fear not getting what they want or losing what they already have. With the current mortgage crisis and the ever rising prices of gas and food, there are numerous people living in fear. If you are struggling to make ends meet, please let me know. You do not have to struggle alone or in silence. Also, keep in mind that as part of our community outreach, the Church runs a food distribution program every Saturday from 8-10 am.

We are living through a presidential election cycle that is unprecedented and historical. It is a time when politicians are using the tried and true strategy of "manufactured fear." It seems the more fear that is generated by people running for political office; the more people are willing to vote against their own best interests, in order to alleviate their fear. When the most vulnerable people in our society are willing to see "the other" as the problem, they are less likely to focus on the government and corporate interests that profit from their fear. During the last presidential election, fear surrounding gay marriage was used to divide us. From all appearances, this presidential election cycle will force many Americans to ponder the question, "Is the United States ready to have the first woman or non-white male as president?"

Chogyam Trungpa remarks, "Acknowledging fear is not a cause for depression or discouragement. Because we possess such fear, we also are potentially entitled to experience fearlessness. True fearlessness is not the reduction of fear; but going beyond fear." On May 4th, my Invitation to Thought will be "Learning to Embrace What You Fear."

I encourage you to get in touch with what you fear. Be attentive to what you fear instead of being controlled by it so you will be one less consumer of manufactured fear. I will close with the wise words of Ursula K. Le Guin, "Great self-destruction follows upon unfounded fear."

Living My Faith, Rev. Monica

---

---