"Be Not Afraid"

Maybe today I'm gonna surprise you a little.  Believe it or not I do have some positive memories of my catholic upbringing, namely the hymns in church.  I truly enjoyed listening to them and even more so, singing them.  My lousy voice, and my inability to carry a tune were usually nicely camouflaged by the sweet voices of my sisters, and since I knew this, I was not reluctant to add my clamour to the mix.  To this day I still have some favorites, not just for the music but even often for the lyrics.  Today I give you one that has stayed with me since I first heard it, probably around 1975. It's written by a jesuit priest. :) :)  Bob Dufford.  Good job Bob!

You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way.
You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand.
You shall see the face of God and live.

Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come follow me, and
I will give you rest.

If you pass through raging waters in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the pow'r of hell and death is at your side, know that
I am with you through it all.

Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come follow me, and
I will give you rest.

Why do I like it?  I think both because it describes my God as I know him/her/it, and because it is just  plain good advice.

If I combine it with an expression I learned from the addicts in my life I get

"Just for Today, Be not Afraid"

If just for today we could live without out little fears, and maybe at least dare to try to live without our big fears, how sweet it would be.  With the big fears I think it's okay to ask for some help and that's when I turn to the proverbial man upstairs.

So!

If your kids are struggling with life...be not afraid.
If you don't have a great job...be not afraid.
If you are struggling with love...be not afraid.
If you are struggling with money...be not afraid.
If you or someone you love has health issues....be not afraid.

Because, believe it or not, I am 150,000 percent convinced that we are not alone!

Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come follow me, and
I will give you rest.

20 km run,  1hr, 43 mins

 "Everyone has to be singing from the same hymn book"---Dean Lombardi

Love
Peter