Fearing The Things That We Don't Understand

Too often we fear the things we do not understand. We fear people who are different than us. We fear unfamiliar things.

When this fear fills us we either freeze in life and do nothing (doing nothing is actually doing something), or we try to run away from feared thing. But running away often leads us into trouble too.

Consider a deer who steps out in front of a car. When this happens the deer often freezes not knowing what to do as it stares into the car's headlights. The deer likely got there in the first place because when the deer first heard or saw the car it panicked and ran out into the road. This ends up bad for the deer and the car and usually for the passengers in the car.

I don't know if my illustration is the best one, but the point is unmistakeable for me. When we are faced with something - anything - that is prone to lead us into fear (like a car coming down the road), giving way to the fear can cause bad things to happen.

Instead of being fearful, perhaps it is better to seek understanding. If the deer - incapable as it may be - began to understand that the vehicle approaching will stay on the road it would not likely run into the danger zone of being hit by that car.

If you and I approached people who are different than us by seeking to understand their perspective rather than by fearing them and seeking to run from them, we might grow as people and end up with less pain or no pain.

I know this whole thing is a little vague .... but consider finding someone or something that you do not understand and engage with that person or that thing. Try to see the other not as a threat to you but as something or someone who can help you to grow. Maybe the world would be a better place if we did that.

It seems to me Jesus did that a lot ... people like Zaccaheus, Matthew, prostitutes, lepers, the woman at the well ... need I go on. All of these people were feared and avoided in society by most until Jesus came along. Jesus engaged with these misunderstood and feared people and it made the world better.

Think about it.