About Fear

Our Lay Leader, Jennie Dyster's address today is on Fear. Jennie begins with the reading of a letter written almost five Centuries ago by Martin Luther to the Rev. Doctor Johann Hess, a pastor at Breslau. Hess had earlier sought Luther's advice on whether taking steps to avoid the Bubonic plague sweeping Germany in 1527 showed lack of faith. Or should the faithful let the will of an Almighty God decide who lives or dies  - and do nothing?
Luther's advice is reminiscent of the best medical advice for avoiding the global Covid-19 pandemic and the fears, wisdoms and fictions it has generated.
Fears are not necessarily true. They are the stories we often tell ourselves, and fears  - like all stories  - have characters, (us!)  - and plots, imagery and suspense! They make us think about - and plan for - the future. Through the cautionary tales we were told as children about fears, we learnt to distinguish between fact and fiction: wisdom and stupidity.
Today, Jennie asks: "How should we deal with our fears?" We should take seriously the idea of being the author and the reader of our own fears. Listen on!