An Old and Rusty Small Boat: an ode to Faith and Fear

One evening, two friends were late from work on their way back home.  Darkness was descending fast.  All their friends reached home already.  They were more tired than yesterday.  But they have to cross a river on their way home.

All the boat seems to have left already.  There was this old and rusty small boat, which was left for them. They are happy to have one anyway.

Someone was spying on them, they felt.  Near the bush, was an old man who came forward and offer help in their situation.  For the two friends, it was awesome to have company in this situation, so they welcomed him warmly.

A second old man was approaching them, who told them he was always there in this kind of day.   Now they had two old friends with them.  They looked experience in whoever the field they worked.

“We don’t need to introduce ourselves.  Soon you will know who we are,” they said. “But we are not good friends, anyway,” the second old man added.

Now they boarded the old and rusty boat.  The river current was stronger than yesterday.

Soon the second old man said alarmingly, “We must go back.  We are going to get drowned, we wont make it to the other side.”  The two friends don’t know what to do.  In reality, what they heard seems a good advice in their situation.

The first old man watched them patiently.  He uttered, “As long as this old man is here, we won’t be able to move forward.   We must throw this old man in the water.”

“Why?” they asked astonishingly.

“Look young man, my name is Faith.  His name is Fear.” He said.

“So?”

“Fear and Faith cannot be on the same boat,” he added.  “And that is why we are not good friends.  But we happened to exist together everywhere.”

So they threw Fear in the river and strive forward to cross the river despite the strong current.   They crossed the river and that is when Faith told them he did his job.  So they thanked him and go their own way.  They reached  home safe and sound but most importantly with great lesson learned.

Had the first old man not win the game, they might go back or drowned in the river too. This happens many times in life.  Let no fear defeat your faith in God.  Have faith, pursue your goal.

Overcoming the Fear of Nothing

Future is a mystery at some level.  Being a mystery instill some kind of fear in our mind.  One cannot be always optimistic.  That is natural.  Too much focusing in the present problem may lead to unwanted thoughts.

Health problems, finance, love life are a threat sometimes. However, reflecting on the good things in the past will help at that time. There is nothing happening on us that won’t benefit us.  That is hard to understand, and I knew it.  Here I may not be able to provide the kind of solutions you wanted, but read on.

 “Do not fear” was mentioned 366 times in the Bible. These are enough for the 365 days of a year.  However, we failed in reminding ourselves everyday about these comforting words.

I happened to came across some people who loss appetite and fear for the future among the younger generations.  Just the words are empty if we failed to recognize who owned the words.  Try to spend time with Him and called for external help also.  Remember everyone face that situation over different issues.

‘Fortune favors the brave’ we were told. The braves also had fear but they overcome it.  When the braves failed it becomes more severe.  We have to prepare for this and know how to live in the moment.   Preparation may not be enough at times though. Take rest and wait for a while.

It is better be unsuccessful than achieving our goal by any means.  Remain calm.  Life will take its course. The moment you become content you overcome that fear of nothing.

Wait, keep waiting, on the Lord.