Amid fear, we've learned to discern our heartbeat, a resilience inherited from our lineage. Life, at times, felt like a perpetual struggle, seeking solace in prayers for enduring serenity. We harbor an innate trepidation, an ever-present companion since childhood. Confronting rational fears poses a dilemma. Fear, often dismissed, serves as a vital protective instinct—a guardian preventing reckless actions. Rejecting the notion of "conquering" fear, we advocate compassionate listening over internal warfare. Childhood assurances yield to adult acknowledgment—the world, once unsafe, remains unpredictable. Living in perpetual fear obstructs rest; relaxation eludes amid internal turmoil. True courage is acting despite fear, a refusal to let it overshadow imagination. Sustaining imagination marries prudence with hope—a courageous union.
May the wisdom born of acknowledging and embracing our fears guide us, allowing compassion to replace internal strife, and may the courageous marriage of prudence and hope light our path to enduring serenity.
(adapted from: James Farmer, Lay Bare the Heart; Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies)