Terror and Terrible Things

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

“Terror can make people feel like all they have is terrible choices.”
                                      – Ann Voskamp

    This line struck me as I read a blog post by Ann Voskamp. “Terror can make people feel like all they have is terrible choices.” Feelings of terror and fear lead us to desperately grasp for a way out, any way out of the feeling and reality of danger. The feelings of terror and fear lead me to feelings (and the reality) that I am truly NOT in control. So in desperation I reach for anything that will give me a sense of control, anything that will shelter me from the pain, from the fear, from the vulnerability … and this “anything” is not usually good. I grasp for control because I ultimately believe I am in charge of the my own security. I grasp for control because it makes me feel safe although this is far from truth.

    As I grasp for anything that will take away the feelings of fear and vulnerability I settle down into a self-made security that can crumble at any moment. Recognizing the instability of self-made security I continue to grasp, I continue to control.

    How about you? How does fear lead you to grasp for control, create your own security and rely on yourself? What would happen if you turned to God, the only One who we can find true security in?

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Love is Risky

**Please take one minute to sit, breathe deeply and seek quiet.**

    We tend to be people that calculate. What is worth what, how much should we pay for this or that, how much time should we spend with a person, money spent, energies, etc. Calculating is okay but often our calculating trickles down to other areas in which it shouldn’t, including love.
    To love means we open ourselves up to the possibility of loss, to pain, to hurt and suffering. To love means we take a risk, because love does not function in addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. Love does not fit into numbers or measurements. It is wide, it is deep, it is long, it is high. The dimensions of love cannot be calculated.
    Yet it feels safe to calculate, to control. Yes, love is risky so we calculate it. We calculate how much we can give without getting hurt or least hurt. We hold back in fear of losing something or someone. We do not always calculate love but sometimes we do. This human response to self-protect is understandable. I want to prevent pain.
    Love is risky, yes. It means letting go of my deep, legitimate desire to prevent pain. It means considering that love is greater, deeper and richer than pain. Love is worth it and love does win.

**Please take as much time as is possible to sit and reflect.**

In the Way

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

In the way. How do you respond when something is “in your way”? Maybe a person is physically in your way or someone is interrupting you from getting something done. Whatever the situation we daily find ourselves with something or someone “in our way”. I often respond with plowing through, deeming my task as more significant than anyone or anything around me (confession time). We often treat God the same, plowing through our day, our goals, deeming our tasks as more significant than God’s interruptions. Where might God get “in your way” today? How will you respond?

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**