Happy Tuesday, My Friend!
BOO!
Do you like scary movies? Going to “haunted houses”? Or do you steer far clear? I’m pretty much a chicken, so you won’t see me lined up to get the socks scared off of me. To be honest, I was even nervous looking up the website for Fright Nights, afraid of what might pop out on me online, let alone going in person!
I do, however, like mildly scary movies, and I mean MILDLY. When I was a little kid, “The Birds” was on TV, and that scared the ever-loving daylights out of me. (However, it didn’t scare me enough to swear off birds forever, as it has some people I know!) The scene where Jessica Tandy’s character finds Dan with his eyes—ahem—removed did me in!
Another movie, “The Frozen Dead,” was on TV probably around the same time. (Honestly, I’m eight years old in all my childhood memories. My eighth year may have lasted several years!) The horrifying part of this movie was this awful blue disembodied head that was kept alive and would talk. I don’t know if I saw the whole movie, but I sure noticed that appalling head. And so did my older brother. My brother was generally nice to me as a kid, but he did like to torment me over this one thing: “the head in the window.” “Be careful of the head in the window!” he’d yell to me before I’d enter a dark room. Sweet Baby James, that scared me to death.
Now, I always liked scary movies that seemed “impossible.” I first discovered this when my aforementioned brother and I went to see “Jaws” in the movie theater. I would have been about 14. I kind of love being “scared,” but knowing that could in no way happen to me. A humongous man-eating shark? They don’t live in Lake Superior, so I’m good! Bring it on! (I didn’t know at the time that I’d eventually live most of my life in Florida, where sharks can happen!)
Or, give me a “Jurassic Park” movie any day of the week! I love those movies! Because, come on, what are the chances I’m going to be running away from a T Rex someday? Or a velociraptor? Slim to none! But, man, oh man, do I love to see a dinosaur chase after some other poor soul!
And don’t even get me started on “Anaconda!” Now there is a piece of story-telling genius. Again, there ain’t no way I’m going to find myself sought after by an enormous snake, though I may scream if I come upon a regular-sized one in my backyard.
So, that’s it. That’s as scared as I want to be. Enough to make me gasp ever so slightly but not enough to cause me to need medication to calm down. If that makes me a chicken, then bring on the French fries and coleslaw!
The funny thing is, I think I spend way too much of my time being fearful. And I don’t mean of giant dinosaurs or freakishly large snakes. I’m talking about everyday stuff that most people probably don’t bat an eyelash over. I used to “just” be afraid of driving over bridges, but now even good-sized exit ramps (the ones that seemingly go into the sky) give me the willies. Pretty much before embarking on any new activity can get my teeth to chattering. Being in social situations where I have to engage with people I don’t know can trip me up but good. The T-shirt that reads “It’s too peopley outside” fits me to a T.
The other day I read a Bible verse that I have read many times, but it never gets old. It’s 2 Timothy 1:7, and it says, “For God did not give you a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” Many translations use the word “fear” instead of, or in addition to, “timidity.”
God did not give me a spirit of fear.
So, where’s it coming from? In the words of Dana Carvey’s Church Lady, “Who is it? Who could it possibly be? Is it—oh, I don’t know—Satan??”
I’m not sure what you believe, but I believe I have an enemy who wants me to be afraid of everything. He wants me to believe that I can’t do hard things. And it bothers me to think of how much I listen to him and fall for his lies. God is not telling me to be afraid, so why am I listening to, as my friend Joanne refers to him, “that pointy-eared jerk” so much? Has it become a habit? A really bad habit?
I considered carrying around a little notebook and writing down every time I felt fearful and then being intentional about stopping in my tracks and reminding myself that God isn’t the one telling me to be scared. I haven’t done that—yet—I’m “afraid” I’ll be stopping and writing all day, and I’ll never get another thing done!
I’ve heard it said that there are 365 verses in the Bible that tell us not to be afraid, one for each day of the year. I’m not sure if that’s true; it sounds a bit too cute to be real. But I think there are plenty of uses of “Fear not!” there for us to change old bad habits into better ones. Even if I read this one verse over and over every day, I think it might just do a body—and soul—some good!
Head in the window? “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged.” (Joshua 1:9) Crazy bunch of birds hungry for eyeballs? “He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings.” (Psalm 91:4) Man-eating dinosaurs? “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
There you go, there are three. Use them in good health, my friend!
I’m headed off on another trip! (I’m scared! Kidding! Well, maybe a little scared and a little kidding.) Kevin and I are going to Scotland and Ireland. Work for him, along with some golf and acting like a tourist for me. I won’t write for a couple of weeks, but you’ll hear from me again on November 8.
Slán go fóill (goodbye for now in Irish)
Written with love – – – Patti XOXO💗
