Move past our fears

A million times a day we hear it, and we may say it: “I’m afraid.” Then we wonder why we have so little peace of mind, success and happiness in the midst of this pandemic.

If we spend our lives looking for safety, we’ll get safety, then find out how little it amounts to. Safety is not success or happiness. We may think it’s security, but it’s really a negative thing. It’s not about getting sick, yet millions have wasted the last few months trying to be safe.

Granted, we have continued to get misinformation about what to do and what not to do from the boys upstairs. And that doesn’t make it any easier for men and women that are full of fears anyway.

For the most part, it is not what does happen that frightens, but what might happen. Most of us squeal before we are hurt. We should realize that reading or watching the press will give us conflicting messages. The press is political on this crisis. One side says cower indoors and wait till a vaccine arrives, if it ever does. The other side wants to move forward, and is criticized for its stand to save the economy and the country.

The truth is that no man can escape either criticism or risk. You can never be blameless and you can never be safe. So, why worry? Always and everywhere, the most successful are those who have been most criticized and who have taken risks. The price of real leadership is criticism and scandal. Have we not seen that recently?

We can never abolish risk and danger. Danger weeds out the strong from the weak. It enables the fittest to survive. It builds character.

Yes, we are all in new territory with this pandemic, but we must say to ourselves, “I’m afraid, but I’m moving forward.” We must face our fears and move toward them. We must do what we are afraid to do. What is the worst that can happen? It might be death! Well, what then? Since when did death become more important than character and self-control?

Put on a mask and get going. TOM ROBERTS

Little Rock