Fear

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

I think that this verse is so appropriate for my thinking this week. Out of Mexico there is news of perhaps a swine flu pandemic. Out of Pakistan the Taliban are one hour give or take from Islamabad and the Pakistani nuclear arsenal. A crank phone call came into my voice mail on Saturday morning at 3:37.

On the surface we might say, wow, scared of a crank telephone call, what’s up with that? Well, I’m not typically a fearful person, but this phone call has been occurring for a year or so now. It is always the same voice, disguised, the same words and roughly at the same time of day. Oh, and the words are personal and attacking. I get the feeling that it is someone that I know and perhaps someone who’s stalking. That makes me cautious. So I head to the Psalms.

As for a swine flu pandemic, well that’s a bit scary too. I will refrain from crowds, including church until this passes. I think that is the right and prudent thing to do. I’ll also stay about three feet away from other people.

Now considering the Taliban with nuclear weapons; that’s scary. I’ll trust that those charged with protecting us will do what they need to do to keep us safe. For my mental well being and outlook I will seek God, the Lord and rely on him to deliver me from my fears and protect me.

Anger and the rule of three

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

What a fantastic and timely verse for me. The last three weeks, nay three years have truly tested my patience and my control. Thankfully there are many sages around me who have reminded me nicely to step back and think before acting, talking or typing; which I have learned to do. It is easy to become agitated when one close to you forces you to rip apart a business that one has poured your blood, sweat and tears into. Of course it is also easy to get a little terse when a confidant becomes a maker of mountains out of mice nuts.

So truly, anger does reside in the lap of fools. A fool is one who is quick to respond to provocation especially when that kind of action is contrary to core philosophies. My core philosophies happen to center on taking care of others first. I try to practice the law of three; which in my mind means God first, others second and self third. The law of three is most difficult when confronted by an irrational, angry and fundamentally damaged person.

With this in mind, my meditation for the week will be this verse from Ecclesiastes, it is timeless and true and worth living by. I knew when this change in my business came that I’d be the one that would have to figure out how it would happen. What I didn’t count on was the fact that every time I make a move thwarting road blocks are thrown up; which is a true test of patience. I’m in a constant quandary as to how to move or act because everything that I do is construed at intentional, when in fact none of it is.

So in dealing with all of this I look to the Psalm; Be still and know that I am God. That helps.