R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts
"I have a policy about fear; it cripples the soul, so you just have to fight it."
Diane Keaton
When we are going through a divorce, fear is part of the equation. We are afraid about so many things. Will the kids be okay after this? Will I be okay? Can I support myself? Will anyone ever love me? At some point excessive fear and worry cripple us, they keep us from taking action that we know we should take. However, fear solidifies our thinking, too. If we use it right, it can make us face what we fear and take action to make sure what we fear doesn't happen. Yesterday, I was walking to my car in a parking garage. A young man approached me and I thought he just wanted to ask a question. I soon realized he wanted my purse, my money and me in my car to take him to an ATM machine. As I told you about yesterday, I had been robbed about a month ago and had just finished replacing checking accounts, credit cards, my telephone and yesterday, my driver's license. I told him he couldn't have my purse. We struggled, and he pulled out a knife and tried again to force me into my car. He was getting more agitated by the moment. One thing I remember: Do everything you can to NOT get in a car with someone in this situation. I was afraid of that happening, and my fear made me take aggressive, maybe life-saving action to prevent it. In some ridiculous sense I was also adamant about keeping my purse. After a tense and intense scuffle, I managed to talk him into just taking my cash. He still has my car keys, but I still have all that stuff I had just replaced and especially my new, hours old driver's license that I need to get on the plane in a few days to a speaking engagement at Pepperdine University! My husband said, "Next time give him the dumb purse!"
"Peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid --stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled."
John 14:27 (The Amplified Bible)
