Alert but not alarmed

“ALERT, BUT NOT ALARMED”

Acrophobia? Agoraphobia? Algophobia? Arachnophobia? Brontophobia? Lygophobia? Panophobia? You may not recognize the first half of these words, but most likely you are familiar with the second. From heights, open spaces, crowded places, pain, spiders, thunder, lightening, and darkness, to the fear of everything. Phobias affect us all! Everybody fears something. Even Superman was afraid of Kryptonite.

Jesus understood this fact. However He was concerned that we not become focused on our fears. One time He said to His disciples, “I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble (tight spots, pressing pressures, fears), but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Several years ago a friend of mine was speaking in New York City. The church he preached in had bars on the windows, and the people had every reason to be concerned about the environment. My friend asked the pastor how he handled the concerns of the congregation. The inner city pastor responded: “It’s really no problem. We live by the code: “be alert, but don’t be alarmed!” I will always remember that. It makes sense.

This principle became reality in my life 25 years ago. “There’s cracks in that dock, Dad. I can see the water down below.” Those were the words of a 5 year old who was quite concerned about walking on water, even though there was a dock to keep him dry. But when you’ve almost drowned twice in your first five years of life, water takes on a whole new meaning. Instead of splashing and swimming, you feel paralysis and panic.

As I walked with my pre-school child along a perfectly safe dock in Baltimore, Maryland, I realized that as his father it was going to be up to me to make sure he had a healthy fear of water. I stooped down to his level, looked him right in the eye and said, “those two times you almost drowned still scare you, don’t they?” “Yeah,” he replied. We ventured on. As we walked slowly out to the boats, there was still a little tremble in his step; but he got over the fear, and we enjoyed the boats. Anxious? Yes. Panicked? No. By the way, this past summer he caught a fifty-pound Tuna fish, 47 miles out into the Atlantic ocean.

That moment brought back the old principle I learned several years ago: “sheep scatter sheep, SHEPHERDS SETTLE SHEEP.” Loving leaders make sure we know there will be pain, but they don’t push the panic button every time there are cracks in the walkway. Paul told Timothy, “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.”

Overcoming fear is found when you meet the man who proclaimed that he was the “Good Shepherd.” His name is Jesus. He hasn’t come to Scatter the Sheep by filling their lives with panic. He has come to Settle the Sheep by bringing peace. The next time your phobias kick in remember the “Good Shepherd” is with you. Be alert, but not alarmed!