When fear is eliminated there are still bewildering choices to be made. A number of options still present themselves, fear or not. One choice or many choices, but the choices have to be made.
When one is fearful, the creative options will not even arise in the mind to be considered. And if they do, they will be quickly dispersed or dismissed as foolish or naive or impractical or idealistic. Too dangerous. Rationalization after rationalization will be made.
Many of you knew Verna Dozier. Years ago she and I were standing in the vestibule with my mother. We were talking about two dear friends and saying, "You know, those are two of the people we know who would cheerfully be burned at the stake for Jesus."
I said, "Verna, you know I wouldn't."
And Verna said, "Oh, I know I wouldn't. I would recant."
We were grieving over how much better our friends were than we. We were not willing to be burned at the stake, even for Jesus.
My mother then said, "Don't worry, girls. I will be there to rationalize why not being burned at the stake for Jesus really was the best thing for you to do."
Always you can rationalize to keep you from that creative wonder that our Lord has in mind.
Mary Campbell Cosby, with her husband Gordon Cosby, is co-founder of The Church of the Saviour.