The Lens of Fear
It is a JOY to welcome my friend, Megan Wilson, to the blog today as the first guest writer.
When I was in pharmacy school, I remember sitting in a lecture about dealing with disgruntled patients. You see, as a pharmacist, we sometimes see patients at their worst. They are sick, tired, and have been at the doctor’s office for hours by the time they get to us. Their patience is worn thin, so if any part of their plan to make it in and out of the pharmacy in 15 minutes with a minimal amount of money spent is derailed, we tend to get an earful of complaints. Sitting in that lecture, I heard one of the most profound statements and it has stayed with me all these years.
“Most of the time, anger is rooted in fear.”
That’s right. Savor that tidbit of information for a minute. Think back on a time that someone was angry with you and apply this statement….“Most of the time, anger is rooted in fear.”
In the case of the sick and tired patient, he/she may get angry when we tell them the cough syrup prescribed isn’t covered by insurance. They know it’s not our fault. However, they might be afraid they can’t afford that $30 on top of the cost for an antibiotic, and the copay they just paid at the doctor.
Amidst this coronavirus pandemic, I’ve noticed SO MUCH FEAR hidden behind anger.
I think it’s safe to say we are all a bit scared. However, we all having different coping mechanisms and not everyone reacts to fear the same way.
The person that’s been laid off…they might be fearful about how to pay their mortgage next month. They might be ANGRY at the people still working.
The person that works in healthcare…they might be fearful they will bring the virus home to their family. They might be posting that they are ANGRY at the people gathering in crowds.
The person trying their best to work from home with all their kids…they might be fearful that they are scarring their children from yelling so much. They might be ANGRY that their spouse isn’t there to help.
Those all make sense right? But what about those people that don’t seem to be panicking? The ones going about their daily business like normal? Perhaps those people are fearful too but simply not reacting to fear in the same way?
The person saying, “Can we all just calm down? The flu kills more people every year and nobody is panicking over that?” Maybe they are fearful that some of their freedoms will be taken away if we get to the point of a shutdown.
The one claiming it’s all a conspiracy? Maybe they are fearful the economy is going to tank or this will become political and their party will not win the election or on and on.
Fear is on our radar right now whether we like it or not, whether we deny it or not, and whether we process it or not.
This pandemic has affected us ALL, and most of it has been negative. A great deal of us are worried and panicked while another side are rooted in denial and non-conformity.
During these uncertain times, it is my hope that we remember this: FEAR IS A LIAR. In the words of one of my favorite songs by Zach Williams, he sings
“Oh, fear he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear he is a liar”
Don’t we all feel a little bit robbed right now? Like our happiness has been stolen? As we struggle through this together, let’s be sure that we aren’t judging our friends for how they process fear. Let’s remember humor and happiness. Let’s look for joy. Let’s share hope. Let’s support each other instead of ripping each other apart. And, most of all, let’s bring our fear to the Father.
“Let Your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let Your fire fall, Your love is all I feel”
After all, if God’s love is all we feel, this coronavirus doesn’t have to bring us down, it will lift us higher than where we began.
© April 20, 2020 The Lens of Fear // Megan Wilson