A week after the mass shooting in San Bernardino, which is now officially referred to as a terrorist act, I continue to pray for the victims and their families and support the work of bringing the community of San Bernardino together to cry, pray, and support each other. I also am mindful of the fear-based reactions of the various groups in the United States to this tragic event such as banning all Muslims from entering the country and the increase of gun sales. A headline of the LA Times on December 10, 2015 read, “Customers rush to gun stores to ease fears after San Bernardino shooting.”
In my book, Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear, I presented 4 different ways that people deal with their fear: fear-conqueror, fear-bearer, fear-exploiter and fear-miner. Fear-conquerors deal with fear through acts of aggression against an “other” seen as enemy. Fear-bearers react to fear by limiting themselves, becoming the victims. If they don’t stay within the line of what is acceptable, they would be faced with the threat of violence. Fear-exploiters are the ones who reap profit of money and power from fear. Often, they are the ones who reinforced the roles of the fear-conquerors and fear-bearers by fanning the flames of fear, targeting the fear-bearers and encouraging fear-conquerors to do their parts. Follow the money and political gain and you will see who the fear-exploiters are at the wake of any fear-producing event.
All three roles I have described so far do not address fear constructively, meaning lessening our fear and reconnecting us with communities that can help us regain a sense of safety and wholeness again. Fear-conquerors ignore fear to the point that they might say “I don’t have fear.” Fear-bearers simply step in line just to survive. Fear-exploiters actually increase our fear so that we continue to play our roles that will give them more power and financial gain.
Fear-miners
...approach fear as an opening, and as an invitation to mine from it the gifts and treasures buried deep below the surface. When we dig down through fear’s openings, we can mine from fear the God-given gifts of wisdom, courage, dignity, and self-esteem with which we can face any adversity that comes our way. When we see our fear as a gift, we will discover that underneath our fear lies the knowledge of God. Buried below our fear is the seed of ministry. Beyond our fear is the hope of resurrection, with new visions for us, our communities and our nations. (Excerpt from Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear.)
How do we begin as fear-miners then? One of the most destructive things that fear does is to put a distance among people. “Could your neighbors be terrorists?” the fear-exploiters would say, “This can happen anywhere!” So instead of being good neighbors, we are to spy on our neighbors—see something, say something. So, the first step to being fear-miners is bridge the distance put there by fear and to get to know your neighbors. Go over to the next house or apartment and say hello. Make time to get together and find out more about each other’s interests, concerns, passions and experiences. More importantly, gather with your neighbors and share your fear especially in the wake of a terrorist attack and when appropriate, eat together, pray together and play together.
When you know your neighbors, you are not fearful of them. When you really know your neighbors, you might actually discover that a certain individual or group in your neighborhood are not to be trusted based on real knowledge and not rumors and suspicious speculations.
For faith communities, please help your members to be fear-miners by organizing truth events, bringing people in your neighborhood together to speak truth about their experiences, especially about their fears. By facing our fears together, we may name the fear-exploiters and refuse to play the prescribed roles of fear-conquerors or fear-bearers. By speaking the truth about fear, we might mine from it respectful relationships and trusting communities that will truly help us be safe and whole again.
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Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: January 18-22, 2016 February 29-March 4, 2016 April 7-12, 2016 July 18-22, 2016 |
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Reflection Questions for 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year C) Zephaniah 3:14-20 Isaiah 12:2-6 (The First Song of Isaiah) Philippians 3:7-18 Luke 3:7-18 |
Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org
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