Fear is Never Justified
I did a bad thing to myself last week; I read the news for five *full* days straight.
In case you haven’t heard, not only is fascism going around but so is norovirus and I got sick from both last Tuesday. The result being that in my biologically weakened state I only had energy to watch movies and scroll on my phone.
I wish I’d had the wherewithall to read an uplifting book, or meditate, or call people I love but my soul still has a long way to go on that front. No, I went straight down the rapidly-enlarging political news rabbit hole, my friends. And it is baaaaaad.
I’ll save you the details because you’ve surely been down to those depths yourself.
But what I did this weekend as I recovered felt either truly insane or truly wise. I ordered copies of my birth certificate and social security card. I’m applying to have my passport and driver’s license renewed even though they don’t expire for a few more years. (Since writing this on Monday I’m rush-filing my taxes). I’m researching how to make my home a potential Ana Franco safe house.
And I’ve reopened all my seminary notes from the class on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Lutheran pastor who almost succeeded in an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler and was hung for his efforts, even as the Nazi empire was collapsing.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Psychic Readings at the Cosmic Winter Wonderfest - Feb 15th 3-4pm in Jamestown, CO
Sing for Your Life! Singing Ceremony - Feb 17th 6-8pm in Denver, CO
Agreements, Karma, and Relationships Workshop - Feb 24th 6:30-8pm in-person in Golden, CO and virtually
READ MORE BELOW
In other words, I really gave into fear. But you know me; I’ll make theology out of anything.
So I was reminded of this curious thing that happens in the ancient scriptures. Whenever an angel of the Lord appears the very first thing they say is “Be not afraid.”
Why would they say this? Because angels are apparently freaking terrifying. They’re all eyeballs and wings and wheels with a heaping dose of fiery swords and the awe-full luminosity of having just been right next to God, the Being who almost burned off Moses’ face.
So I think of “Be not afraid” as more of a divine command than a request simply because the ones to whom they appear are probably like, “I am getting the f*ck outta here.”
But these horror show angels always appear right at the moment when their subject is about to be transformed.
An angel appears to Lot and saves his ass from the murderous denizens of Sodom (nothing to do with homosexuality, FYI).
An angel almost shakes down the temple Isaiah is praying in and chokes him out with smoke but instead purifies him with a live coal - ouch! - and inaugurates his mission as a prophet of God.
An angel appears to Mary and informs her of the fact that she is about to birth a Messiah who will crumble the Roman Empire; very scary news for a young undocumented migrant worker.
But my favorite angelic appearance is when either God or an angel wrestles with Jacob and permanently disfigures the future father of the man who brings the Hebrews to Egypt.
“Sagrado Corazon de la Rebeldia (Sacred Heart of Rebellion)” by Dante Aguilera Benitez
Jacob wrestles the mysterious man all night and finally has his hip wrenched into a permanent limp for the effort.
He is no longer Jacob but is renamed by the angel/God as Israel, “the one who wrestles with God.”
Folks, if we are not having a mightily terrifying and potentially disfiguring wrestling with the angels of God right now then I don’t know what to make of this all. But I do know we are about to be transformed as a country, a planet, a species into a holy sacred people one way or another.
Whatever you are wrestling with in this very dark night of the human soul I encourage you to heed the divine command: Be not afraid.
For as the Course in Miracles teaches, fear is never justified. Caution, yes. Alertness, swift action, loud alarm, all yes. But fear, that thing that paralyzes and shrinks us and causes us to flee from angels is the one thing we cannot do right now.
Be not afraid, friends. Take heart in the promised name of the ancient Hebrew God; YHWH/Immanuel or “The Breath of God With Us.” Take heart that the angels always come with transformative blessing. Take heart that where two or more are gathered, there also is the Christ.
Let me know how you’re finding courage this week and I’ll do the same for you.
In Spirit,
Cindy
Feb 15th - Live Psychic Readings at the Cosmic Winter Wonderfest
I’ll be offering in-person 20 minute psychic readings for $20 (a real deal!) at the Jamestown Cosmic Winter Wonderfest. So grab your valentine and let’s take a look at those sweet energetic connections.
From the Vendor:
Let’s bring a little light to the long Winter Night!
Buy tickets below for The Second Annual Cosmic Winter Wonderfest. Psychics will be doing readings in the Town Hall from 4pm-7pm.
In The Merc, you can grab Jambalaya, a Po’Boy Sandwiches, Desserts, Hot Mulled Wine and Cold Drinks.
Live Music goes from 3pm-10:30pm
Music by: Alphatones! Bear Hat! Rolling Harvest! Canyon Collective!
Feb 17th - Final Spring Singing Ceremony
One of my favorite theologians, Nadia Bolz-Weber (who’s on a singing tour right now), says that when she sings with others she’s never afraid. So come sing with me tonight and we’ll fill our hearts with courage for the wrestling times.
Cost: $20. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Times: 6-8pm
Location: In-person at Sakala Community in Denver, CO
To Bring: Items and offerings for the altar (chocolate, flowers, corn meal), songs or instruments you want to share. There are mats and pillows for sitting on the floor or you can bring a camp chair.
Feb 24th: Agreements, Karma, and Relationships
I promise you this whole political situation is nothing but karma - personal, interpersonal, and planetary. Knowing how to work with karma and agreements makes it easier to do the healing work so desperately needed right now.
Come join us for this foundational workshop on how to tell the difference between agreements and karma, how to untangle both, and how to have deep intimacy and clarity in every relationship in your life.
Cost: $33
Date: Monday Feb 24th
Times: 6-8pm
Location: In-person at the Golden Rock Shop in Golden, CO and Virtually
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Artwork? Top image by the insane mind of AI, third image by Dante Aguilera Benitez
