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Weeks later, she was able to recount for me what she went through as her husband was air lifted to a hospital and underwent a series of surgeries. She said that through the first hours of the trauma, an unexpected calm accompanied her. She attributed her emotional state to the fact that “friends in all the world’s major religions were praying for us.” Yet, at a certain point, fear silently and swiftly made its presence known. I love the next part of her accounting: “I said, ‘Get thee behind me Satan.’ I am the first line of defense and you are not getting through to me or my husband.”
Her story rang so true to me - for I too have know that calmness in the face of scary circumstances, I too have felt fear slither in and threaten to undermine the presence of that grace. I wonder if fear isn’t the opposite of grace. It does seem that fear can turn me away from grace and love and goodness. When I am afraid, I am not my best self. It is then that I am most like to act in ways destructive to myself or others.
My friend’s story struck me as particularly helpful at this point in time for fear appears squid-like now, with many tentacles reaching into my life. . Covid 19, destructive storms, political unrest - the very atmosphere seems permeated with fear. I want to follow my brave friend’s (and Jesus’) example in saying, ‘Get thee behind me Satan.” May we all remain centered in grace as we face the fearful events and situations in our lives.