Fear Not!
We all have things that frighten us, don't we? Well, if we are being honest with ourselves, we do.
Those things can be imaginary. They can be very real. And, they can be blown way out of proportion.
None of that matters. If something scares us, it scares us.
To survive in the world, we often times have to pull up out Big Girl or Big Boy panties and power on like nothing is terrifying us.
We have all been there, but I am not going to call anyone down on it. Fear is what it is. And, what it can be is paralyzing!
At some point, though, we all have to make a very conscious and very sincere effort to own our fear. That is the moment it will stop controlling us.
Perhaps one of the most notable moments when fear came face to face with an immovable object - and LOST - was in the classic Charlie Brown Christmas.
Many never realized for years and years what a Christian Classic that particular show was - and is.
Yet, it is celebrating THE moment that Christmas is all about.
It is all centered upon one character's fear. A fear that had loveable little Linus on center stage over his blankie obsession more times than we can count.
Yet, never once did Linus feel guilty about his bankie.
Nor should he.
Nor should WE ever feel guilty about our "blankies."
We all have them.
Some of us still cling to our symbolic blankies.
Y'know what?
That's okay.
How many times have we read the Gospels and wondered how those Giants of the Faith fell flat on their faces so often.
Simple.
They tripped on their blankies often and frequently.
I admit it. I do. Still.
Know what else? I still get right back up, dust myself off and keep moving forward.
Don't you?
What brought Linus to THE moment of truth?
Think about the show. Who had the faith, and the courage to standup during the Christmas Show and tell it like it was?
Not Charlie Brown.
Not Lucy.
It was Linus. With his blankie. At first.
He was quoting this well known, well loved Scripture:
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11, K.J.V.)
Nothing happened at first, and then?
Then Linus came to the words "Fear not."
Guess what?
He didn't.
Linus dropped the blankie!
First time ever, at least that we were ever able to see.
Linus looked up in Faith and in Courage dropped the one thing that, til that moment, kept him strong - THE BLANKIE.
But then, Linus was seeing a different form of courage: faith in our Lord and Savior at His Birth.
Sooner or later, we all meet that moment in time and in our lives.
For some, it's more obvious. For some, more private.
But, for few was it at such a public, opportune moment as that moment in Linus' life.
He dropped his Blankie.
Do you have ANY idea just how symbolic and courageous that moment was in Linus' life?
Did he ever pick up that blankie again?
Of course.
We all have picked up our blankies again.
Hey, I have a blankie now! I sleep with that blankie every night. Every, single night.
Not ashamed of it. I love my blankie.
I don't go dragging it around in public. But, it is close at hand when I am at home.
I'm sure Linus was the same way.
Let's not lose sight of the true importance of that moment, though.
"Fear not!'
We ALL have the power to say that with confidence and drop our blankies in faith and in confidence.
We do!
If you didn't know that, you do now!
So, just let that soak in and Praise Abba for blankies, faith, and courage.
He, after all, is where they all come from.
And, He, after all, IS the blankie of all blankies!!
So, this Christmas season, stop for just a moment, say thank you for Linus and his courage to FEAR NOT, and the moment of truth when the blankie hit the stage.
He did it. We can do it. And Praise Abba for the fact we can.
And, on that note, from ME to YOU, I wish you the Merriest of Christmases and pray you find the true meaning of Christmas if you don't know it already.
Please enjoy the love of the season, and stay safe and stay well!
