Fear

Living in fear is like living in a box. The space we inhabit is small. Our journeys in life are short and mainly unsatisfactory. Life becomes claustrophobic and a chore.

Only when we break free from fear can we see how big and full of possibility life actually is. And once we see this, we’re less likely to fall back into fear. The trick is breaking free for the first time. 

It’s no coincidence therefore, that the most common thing Jesus, and other major spiritual teachers, teaches is ‘be not afraid’. It seems to have been the cornerstone of what he taught us – the only way to begin a truly enlightened spiritual path.

Excerpted from Finding God in the Mess: Meditations for Mindful Living by Brendan McManus SJ & Jim Deeds (p.8)