"No Fear"

Before the millennium, I wrote an article for this column in which I referred to guidance offered regarding fear in Emmanual’s Book II: The Choice for Love, compiled by Pat Rodegast and Judith Stanton. The gist of it was that I was not going to allow myself to “catch” the media-hyped fear of what horrors Y2K might bring, instead taking Emmanual’s advice to focus on love and believe that our world is working toward a transition to a higher consciousness, an evolution of spirit. In the months leading up to the end of the century, I heard local people talk of “end times” and the belief that “this is it.” Today, I am hearing many more such conversations, and fear has once again taken a stronghold in our society as we straddle the cusp of war with Iraq. Once again, I felt fear’s clutch upon my attention. It appears that it is a lesson I need to continue to heed—not to buy into fear.

I have been attending the peace rallies in Asheville, the first having a few hundred people, the second close to two thousand. It was not what I wanted to do on my days off, but what I felt compelled to do—to stand up and be counted as one of those who want peace. In my small foothills community, the generally-held belief is that God is behind our President and anyone who disagrees is not a patriot. Both concepts go against what I’ve been schooled to believe are important foundations of America’s democratic society: the separation of church and state, and the right of protest. Signs held by rally-goers ranged from “Whoa, cowboy,” to “No preemptive strike,” and “No blood for oil.” Our government insists the latter is not a consideration of this march to war, yet it is the most common standard seen in peace marches worldwide.

My husband’s best friend since they served together in 1969-70 on the USS Pickaway, Mike McGuire, was asked to speak at a recent rally in San Francisco, CA. His words helped me regain my focus on peace over fear. The following are excerpts from his speech:

It was clear to me as it is clear to me now, that it is this magnificent document, this Constitution, in particular the Bill of Rights, that makes American the country I would be proud to serve. Much has changed in that 35 years. Much has changed in the last two years…many of these basic Constitutional rights have been gutted.

I believe the service given by a warrior to his society was a heroic and honorable endeavor. It was a selfless and necessary activity of maintaining borders and protecting women, children, and the necessities of life from the immediate dangers of invasion. But where goes that honor when that warrior is no longer asked to protect his own, but instead is ordered to murder large numbers of innocents in order to facilitate the theft of another sovereign nations’ resources—in this case oil—for the exclusive profit of the wealthiest multi-national corporations? I believe, when these are the circumstances, that that which was once honor now becomes an act of murder-for-hire. There is no honor in murder.

What I want to address now, what I want to ask here is what we can do about creating the solution…My personal fear is less about what Bin Laden or Saddam has or will do, and more about the direction my government is heading. But fear is fear. Where it gets projected is less important than how its effects cripple my sense of peace.

Sometimes it seems all too easy to assume that peace is lacking because of George Bush or members of his administration. But that’s because in that moment I perceive those circumstances as being more real than the simple reality that I am alive and breathing and that in that breath lies the experience of true peace.

If I want peace, I am capable of creating peace only to the extent that I know peace. So I reach out to each of you to look to that which provides for you the greatest feeling of peace and well being in your lives. Take time to listen to that small wise voice within and the silence beyond. It may be most easily heard through your spiritual practices or religious connections; it might be through your community; it might be spending time in nature; whatever—only you know…

…Fear is the enemy…only peace prevails over fear…rise up with peace in your hearts and celebrate life.

Another friend, Sharon, offered further advice I’d like to share with you.

When we feel peace internally, it will have the greatest effect upon others, like dominos tumbling against one another. Centering and meditation allow us to understand the challenges we face—it is a time to choose between fear-separation-negative energy and living our lives in a connected physical-emotional-spiritual manner. What is happening is not a right-wrong question; it is a “creation catalyst” to make us more aware of our choice. Our leaders need our prayers to realize the effects of their own fears and sense of separation. We need to express the positive in every instance in our domain—that is peace. We are all effected by our choices. What we see outside is a reflection of our inner feeling. It is time to focus on the green heart chakra, and send our love to all of the world.

In ending, I would like to quote from the aforementioned book of Emmanuel’s, my touchstone in times of unease:

You say, “There has to be another way!”
But the “other way” can never be the other person,
the other nation.
The other way is always another way of being
within yourself.

When the greater reality of Self
becomes available again
as it was in the formation of your Earth,
who you are
will transform your planet.

To negotiate from fear is not productive.
To negotiate from love and mutuality
will create such changes
that it will fairly spin your heads
to see how quickly the world can turn
from separation to Oneness.

Your entire human experience
is predicated on your viewpoint.
Your viewpoint
is predicated on your inner belief system
and that is predicated
on how much you believe in fear
and how much you believe in love.
                                                    (p.109-110) 

Gabrielle Thompson lives with her husband Ed and daughter Lyric in the mountains of western North Carolina at Eco-Cove, a 117-acre wildlife sanctuary and trout farm. She has a degree in Anthropology and is Coordinator of Library Services at McDowell Technical Community College. Previously she helped Ed build, sail, and charter the 75’ schooner, SATORI for 14 years in the Virgin Islands. She is a freelance writer and has written two unpublished novels. In December 2002, she had an article published in Moments of Grace Magazine, with an introduction by Neale Donald Walsch.