Facing Fear with Faith
"Rise, and do not be afraid." (Matt 17:7) --Jesus to Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration Fear and anxiety are basic human emotions. They can be a prison of difficulty and build up into deep distress, brooding, anger, and resentment. Our secular and divisive society today often uses fear as a way to control, deceive, and punish. Fear holds us back; it makes us confused and unwilling to take the path that God wants us to. It can be debilitating and painful. Leaders often face fearful situations -- they may not be physical or health-related, but are often the product of anxiety, prior circumstance or experience, and the unknown. Church leaders face fears when new programs are rolled out, or change occurs. These are all natural -- but how do we as leaders use our faith to help ourselves and others to manage these emotions? As Catholics, fear is something we may experience, but the powerful words of Jesus keep echoing: " Do not be afraid ." In spite of...