People talk about drunken sailors being the most foul-mouthed people in the world. I wouldn't know, I've never been a drunken sailor nor have I met one. But I do know a four letter word that I rarely hear anyone repeat no matter how loose they are with their tongue. In fact I'll wager that you rarely if ever have used this word yourself, especially with any personal reference, no matter how tough life gets.



Do you want to know what simple four letter word brings kings and princes, the mightiest and boldest to their knees?

It's "fear".

The mere mention of this word enrages people. They run away, get violently mad, break down and cry or use many other actions and reaction in an attempt not face the simple truth that they are afraid.

The phrase, "I have fear about ...." is something rarely spoken but it lurks in the shadows of our minds none the less. It's almost like an unspoken agreement that if we don't say the words, it doesn't exist. Well, that may be a convenient way to deal with it but you know it's not true. So what do you do?

Most people do nothing they keep pretending they are not afraid by being aggressive, distracted or becoming numb. Is it your health, your finances, your relationships, your children, your job, your future? Does the simple fact that I am asking you these questions bother you? I grew up in the South, so I hate confrontation but I've learned to hate avoidance even more.

You know you can't remove something that you have not identified and haven't acknowledged that it exists. But most people are afraid to even admit that the tension in their neck, the tightness in their stomach, the uneasiness of each day is fear about something. I've only even know one individual who had no fear and he died many years ago.

As a man, I know that men are the worst at this. We will pretend that we are tough enough to go through anything without any help or acknowledging anything we perceive as a weakness. But here is the paradox. I was working on trimming up a variety of Palo Verde tree in our backyard. It was loaded with wicked thorns and of course I was too manly to wear gloves. So I ended up with a wicked thorn buried deep and a wicked cut.

But again here is the funny thing, I didn't ignore the pain, the inflamed tissue or the obvious problem, I went after it. This meant digging into a very tender spot because I knew I had to get the source of the problem. Fear is no different; it is a thorn that will only fester if it is allowed to stay.

If you think fear is too strong to let go of, let me assure you that it is not. You have the god-given ability to put off what you do not want and to put on what you do want, so don't be afraid to identify your fears and let them go.

Copyright (c) 2008 Good News Publications