The Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

It was one of the best spring break trips we’ve ever taken. Honestly, growing up and reading about it in school books, I never thought I’d get to see it in person. So, when we arrived there, I was in awe with how majestic and vast the entire canyon really is. Then, after five minutes of wooooooow, I went into explore mode.

Soon Daryl and I and the kids were climbing anywhere and everywhere. Down the mountainside. Onto rocks. Jumping over gaps. And climbing up to the very edge to get a better view… and to frankly have more fun.

Was it risky? Sure, some of it. At one point, as Jami stayed back and watched us, a group with a guide walked up near where she was standing. As the guide was talking, Jami overheard what he was saying…

“You see that group of guys with their kids… you’re gonna read about them on the news tonight because someone fell off the mountain.”

As Jami was listening, she quickly realized that the guide was talking about me and our kids. When we got back, she told us what the guide said. To which I replied, “Well, if someone would have fallen, he would have been right. There was an 800 foot fall off of that edge we were walking.”

Fear.

It’s an interesting thing. In one circumstance, like in the Grand Canyon, it will keep people from experiencing and seeing something more beautiful by venturing out and exploring a bit… it’s a motivating factor for them. For me and my kids (and our friends), we don’t let fear keep us back. Rather, the rewards of the process of exploration motivates us to push farther.

Today, while we aren’t at the Grand Canyon, fear is still a motivating factor for many people. And the media, politicians and regular folk know it. Just watch tv for five minutes, jump on social media, listen to the radio or even talk to a few folks face to face, and you will see that the end of the world is near if you vote for “so-and-so.” I have never in my life listened to so many speeches that are written to take advantage of people’s fears.

The message is clear… You need to fear Covid. You need to fear Donald Trump. You need to fear Joe Biden. You need to fear… and the answer to your fear is provided by whomever is speaking.

Fear.

Fear keeps us from living life how it’s meant to be lived. It divides us. If we allow it to take root in our lives, it keeps us from seeing life as something more beautiful and we see others as our enemies. Jesus knew this and instead of preaching fear, He said something completely different. Check it out…

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

It’s interesting to me that Jesus talks about living in peace and not being afraid in chapter 14. Then, in the very next chapter, He talks about love, and tells people to love one another. Even though I went to seminary, I’m not a bible scholar. But it’s not lost on me that, at least in the book of John, loving others comes after living in peace and not in fear.

One of the MANY lessons that 2020 has taught me has been this…

It’s hard to love people when you’re living in fear.

I’ve witnessed it on the news. I’ve seen it on social media. And I’ve experienced it myself in my own life and mental head space. What I’ve noticed is this… When you live in fear, when I live in fear, we are focusing on our circumstances and what we need to do to control our circumstances at any cost. This is why it’s hard to love people when you live in fear… fear makes things to be about YOU and YOUR circumstances. Fear is the great divide between you and others. But when you live in a spirit of love, it’s NEVER about you. And love is able to bridge the divide.

But fear is a powerful emotion. It can sprint into your life and take a hold quickly. We see this with Peter when, in the middle of a storm in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, he asks Jesus to call him out onto the water with him. And when Peter got out of the boat, He took his eyes off of Jesus and was concerned about the wind and waves and began to be afraid. In other words, he started to focus on his circumstances.

It’s the same thing for us… and there are a lot of circumstances we can be focused on right now. Covid. Politics. Riots. Lies. Job security. Money problems. The election. Government mandates. Social injustice. While we aren’t on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, if feels like we’re in the middle of ONE BIG STORM. And Jesus still says the same thing He said to Peter…

“Come.”

It’s a simple word. Four letters. But it’s also a powerful word. In the middle of our storm, in the middle of our fear, Jesus calls to us and says, “Come.” Because He knows that we can’t overcome our fear and love others without His help. Only when we answer the call of Jesus on our life, trust Him as our Savior, and live in the Holy Spirit can we truly overcome fear, live in peace and love others genuinely.

Fear is the great divide between loving others. But Jesus… Jesus is the bridge to fill the gap because Jesus is love. And He’s calling to each of us…

“Come.”