Ghosts. Ghouls. Goblins. Gremlins. Witches. Werewolves. Devils. Demons. Throughout literature and all of history we hear of the mysterious and the unexplainable: houses haunted; people possessed and spells being cast. Find the most sensible people who are able to reason out most things that happen and you will still find most have a ghost story or two to tell about something fearful which they couldn’t explain. It seems we all have a memory from some dark and scary night.
Or perhaps you suffer from more everyday fears: you check and double check the locks on your doors at night or that the fire alarm battery is still working. Maybe you have fears that come from something in your history – a fear of speaking in front of people because you tried it and it didn’t go well, a fear of dogs because you were bitten once, a fear of love because you were hurt by someone to whom you had given your heart.
What are your fears? Stop for a moment and think about them. What makes your heart beat faster and your head start to feel thick and heavy? What fills you with dread and anxiety?
Martin Luther acknowledged the fear and evil we so often feel around us. In his famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God,” he writes, “Though hordes of devils fill the land, all threatening to devour us.” But he continues that same verse with a confidence that explains why that fear doesn’t leave us shaking. He writes, “We tremble not, unmoved we stand, they cannot overpower us!”
Why should we spend time being afraid of anything in this world? Darkness can never drive out love and God’s light.
Something’s Always Wrong
by Toad the Wet Sprocket
Another day I call and never speak
And you would say nothing’s changed at all
And I can’t feel much hope for anything
If I won’t be there to catch you if you fall
Again
It seems we meet
In the spaces
In between
We always say
It won’t be long
But something’s always wrong
Another game of putting things aside
As if we’ll come back to them some time
A brace of hope a pride of innocence
And you would say something has gone wrong
Again
It seems we meet
In the spaces
In between
We always say
It won’t be long
But something’s always wrong
“Again we fail to meet and mend
The spaces safe between intents
We say too much and long been gone,
Oh but something’s always wrong.”
“Again we fail to make amends
And wend our way between intents
And looking back, not moving on
Oh but something’s always wrong.”
“Again we fail to meet and mend
The spaces safe between intents
We say too much, too long been gone
Oh but something’s always wrong.
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