By Andrew Hartzler, professor of accounting
This week’s theme: From fear to compassion
This week’s Scriptures: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 | Psalm 27 | Luke 13:31-35 | Philippians 3:17–4:1
Fear has been part of the human experience since the beginning of time. When Adam and Eve made the decision to change their relationship with God in the Garden of Eden, fear entered in. Fear took root when they became acutely aware of their powerlessness and the uncertainty of things they could not control. That same fear lives in the hearts of humanity today.
Human beings often seem not fully aware of the power of fear in their life and the way it affects their mood, their decisions, and even their health. Evidence of the power of fear is all around us, in politics, in communities, in schools, and in relationships. Fear of our way of life changing, fear of lack of resources, fear of broken relationships, fear of people that we don’t understand. Sadly for all of us, fear creates pathways for the worst of who we are. It allows evil to enter into our lives and our communities and blinds us to the common humanity that we share. Fear can lead to violence, injustice, oppression, and ultimately to death.
So how do we push back against the crushing weight that fear can bring? I believe that the Holy Spirit joins us in this fight when we lean into compassion for other human beings. Fear by its very nature is an inward looking act, a concern for self over all else. There are instances where fear can be a good thing, fear of driving too fast, fear of standing too close to the edge of the cliff, fear of wounding others. For the most part though, fear is the antithesis of compassion. It ignores the other, denies the other, and oftentimes vilifies the other as being the cause of our fear.
Compassion is the opposite of fearful living. It considers the other, enters into the experience of the other, walks in the shoes of the other, desires health and happiness for the other. When we hold tightly to compassion for other human beings we are able to diminish the power of fear in our lives and live more fully into the beauty of our humanity. Compassion is rooted in the heart of who God is and who God created us to be. So let us embrace compassion as our mantra, to partner with God in the light, and call on God to strengthen us when fear rises up within.