Fear

At the student-planned Prime Time Mass this past Wednesday evening, we were each given a square of clay before we entered the chapel. The opening question was not something to discuss, like usual, but instead was an instruction to form out of our clay something that we fear. 

I kneaded my small square of clay until it became round. I then took my skewer stick and drew an outline of America.

After the Gospel we were instructed to morph our clay into something that we believe will keep us from those fears. I then formed my clay into an eye. 

When Michael asked if any of us were willing to share, I raised my hand. 

I first formed the world because I fear the world that my nephews and niece, as well as my own children someday, will live in. 

I transformed that world into an eye, because I know God is always watching over us and He will take care of us, so there is no reason to fear. This isn't necessarily easy, though, and I get that. 


Had you asked me 6 months ago what I feared, the list would have included things like:

my future

being alone

failure

Here's the thing, though. I have learned a lot in the past 6 months. A lot. 

I know now that I will never be alone because God is always with me. 

I know now that I don't need to fear failure, because failure helps me learn and gives me the motivation to try again. 

I know now that I shouldn't fear my future because God knows what He's doing. Everything happens for a reason and if something isn't going right, it's probably going to teach me something and I will come out of the situation better than I was before. 

I have a really great friend whose faith I admire greatly, and she will occasionally text me random Bible verses. Those verses always seem to be just what I need to hear at the time. She recently sent me this: 

"Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, which must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

~James 1:2-4