I am NOT Afraid

I am not afraid of gyms or exercise. That would be ridiculous. In fact, I exercised at a gym just yesterday and plan to do so again before the sun rises.

Jesus said “Do not be afraid” quite a lot. He was also fond of encouraging us to do things. There must be a connection. We all know people who do all kinds of “crazy” things. We tend to say that they aren’t afraid of anything. Is it fear that keeps us from doing things?

Yesterday, feeling pretty fine from my gym and exercise triumph, I was standing in line at Albertsons. In front of me was a young man with about a dozen different kinds of beer he was checking out. He was not my kind of man. You know, “We don’t smoke or drink or chew and we don’t hang with those who do.” It goes something like that. But I was feeling kind of crazy and spoke to him, “Nice variety pack you have there.” I am really quite glib when I get started. I didn’t lead him to Christ, but we had a nice conversation and I think we would exchange pleasantries again if we ran into each other in the next few days.

Behind me in line was a beautiful young woman with three irritating children and a basket full of stuff. Emboldened by my success with the beer guzzler, I asked, “Do you need a hand?” She smiled gratefully but sort of shook her head in a polite “No, but thank you.” I ignored her and helped her unload her basket. She turned, I would like to think gratefully,  to controlling her brats. In the back of my head I heard someone, or something, say, “Look at that old fool flirting with that young woman.” I am getting better at ignoring that voice in the back of my head. In light of her frustrations with her children, I doubt she would have shown much interest even to the much younger and better looking guy with all that beer.

Jesus said that he came that we might have life and that we might have it more abundantly. Doesn’t that mean we shouldn’t avoid exercise, or never talk to people without their passing an acceptable-to-my-values test, or help someone out who has a problem, even if we may look foolish? Isn’t it those little things that make our lives more abundant?

I’m feeling pretty abundant this morning, but it is early.

Be blessed.

Nick