Perfect love casts out fear

To foreclose on our emotional life out of a fear that the costs will be too high is to walk away from the very thing that gives purpose and meaning to living. – Brene Brown, Daring Greatly

I was fortunate enough to visit the infamous ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais for a second time earlier in March. While there I was invited to take part in a multi-faith service held in a tent in the middle of this emerging slum community. Together, as a small group of Christians from Syria, Iran and Europe, we reflected on the words of an Old Testament Prophet, Micah.

Calais01Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid. – Micah 4:4

We shared stories of the Fig and the Vine from our traditions, and prayed for those who are afraid. Then it hit me – the feeling of fear all around me was vivid and over-whelming.

The fear of falling bombs and war that had driven many of these people from their homes. The fear that many must have felt crossing the Mediterranean in unsuitable boats. The fear of the journey so far with no end in sight.

Then the fear of the imminent demolition of the camp, the fear of homelessness, of cold and hunger. The fear of not knowing what is next. Fear of the police and the authorities. Fear of ‘us’.

Also, our fear of ‘them’, fear of what mass migration means to our way of life, fear of different cultures, the fear of not having enough resources. A fear used by right wing politicians on both sides of the Atlantic to gain ground – fear of militant Islam, the fear of ISIS, the fear of terrorism. Fear of ‘the other.’

A fear of heights saves us from falling, a fear of snakes may stop us from being bitten, a healthy sense of fear protects us from harm. But fear can also close us off to the very thing that gives purpose and meaning to life – love and relationships.

All the great world religions speak of a need to journey beyond our fear and see the humanity in ‘the other’, to see them as made in the image of God – just like us.

Thomas Merton, the Christian Mystic wrote of an experience, a vision he had in 1958, where he became acutely aware of his connection to the people around him, even strangers. In that moment he realized that he shared more in common with them than he and they knew. He says:

It was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud…

Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts, …  the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes. If only they could all see themselves as they really are.  If only we could see each other that way all the time. – Thomas Merton

Or as the Bible puts it:

Perfect love casts out all fear.

Bless you,

Rev Charlie Ingram
Minister, bgbc.co.uk

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