perfect love casts out fear,

I have been told that today,

but do you know what…

today for me it doesn’t…

I know I am loved,

held by love, held in love,

and yet I am still afraid…

I am afraid for my loved ones,

for myeslf,

for my neighbours,

for my community,

frankly for the world…

yes I am afraid…

and it is not a lack of faith,

I have faith,

and I know that ultimately all will be well,

and there will be no sickness, sorrowing, dying or pain…

but today all of those things are the raw real harsh reality…

and today I need to say out loud,

I am afraid!

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Cast yourself on God,

another person told me….

do you really think I am not doing that?

of course I am, and the list of those I hold before her grows…

daily it grows…

but I am afraid

and the storm clouds deepen…

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Jesus was afraid,

praying in Gethsemane,

he was afraid

and alone,

as his bloodstained sweat poured from his brow

he was afraid,

and in that fear he prayed…

and so can I,

so will I…

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and in fear I will follow…