Fear Not

Fear not is a common quote from Jesus.  It is on my mind today because I just read an article about fear in Catholic San Francisco, our local catholic newspaper. In the article titled Some fear is salutary, Fr. John Catoir quotes John Newton who wrote Amazing Grace, "T'was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved."  These lyrics resonate with me as I often feel that fear keeps me from really living fully.  I seek the grace to live with a balance of healthy fear: fear that I can't do enough to help the poor and those most in need and fearlessness to live in ways that inspire and help versus intrude and enable. I want enough fear to always act with integrity and enough courage to live with congruence to my values.  I also think about this as my little nephew has the opportunity to go on a trip to Ireland and seems a bit fearful. The world has turmoil and always will. I just hope that he is inspired to make his choice from a place of adventure versus fear.  Are we people who inspire adventure, love and joy or do we deflate ideas and fertilize fear. In these times with so much information readily available as life's events unfold, it is not surprising to see how we can become more fearful. However, to live fully, and faithfully, I pray for my nephew to have the grace enough to have his fears relieved.

My new pad of paper….no longer resisting happiness

While I would say I am a happy person, in fact, quite joy filled, there is one area that I can’t deny and that is related to denial itself. I often deny myself little incremental items that I know I would love to use, for example, my new notepad.  I was in between meetings yesterday in San Francisco and saw a big 70% off poster on the Papyrus store of Embarcadero 2. I walked in and there were these beautiful notepads.  I bought several thinking these will make lovely gifts for friends and family. Truthfully, I wanted one for myself.  Normally I would tuck them away for a rainy day birthday gift or Christmas gift, however, today, this morning, I felt different.   I unwrapped the cellophane packaging for this beautiful colorful notepad and I am using it. I touched it, I smiled, I wrote short list of things to be done, added a few more to the list, completed 1 item on the list: calling my sister Bridget and telling her about my new pad of paper.  I am so happy with this little incremental $1.78 notepad, I can hardly contain my joy.  I did not deny myself, I did not resist joy and in fact while I am still a happy person, this morning, I am just a little bit happier, a little more productive and now I check off my list “Blog today.”  What are you resisting that will bring you just a little more happiness?