2020 will go down in history as the year that everyone wanted to forget! We learned quickly how our fragile modern day world can fall apart with just a little stress on its systems. We learned about the importance of local agriculture and commerce. We learned that big business is not always the best business. We watched as the threads of our society broke apart. We saw our nations divided politically, racially, religiously and morally.
For the first time in history, we watched as the entire world as we know it came to a halt, almost as if the earth itself stop spinning.All because of one thing… Covid?
No!
Covid got the blame, as did governments, politicians, religious leaders, BLM, Antifa, the WHO, CDC, anti-maskers, pro-maskers, anti-vax’ers, pro-vax’ers, drug companies… You name it, 2020 was the year of passing the blame, but for what? Not Covid…
Fear!
Fear itself is what crippled the world as we once knew it. Fear is what ruled the minds of most people in 2020, but not all. Why? Because there is a secret that most people do not know.
Come closer and pay attention, I’ll tell you the secret!
Fear is a choice, a free act of will. For many, it is the default reaction to uncertainty, trauma or threats. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
For me to say “I fear this, or that!” Is to say “I have fear for something”. Doing so is by default taking upon oneself something willingly. It is ultimately, not the results of something bad which causes us the most worry, but the fear of that thing.
Fear is a choice, and if fear is a choice then we can also choose not to have fear. To “have fear” is to choose to react to a given situation in a fearful way. That reaction does nothing to change the situation or the outcome. In fact, by choosing to fear any given situation, we often allow a worse outcome to occur, by tossing aside rational thinking and giving into panic.
In actuality, the same ability to choose how we react, can be applied to improve or overcome the situation, simply by choosing a different reaction. Just as I can choose to have fear, so too can I choose to have courage. To have courage in the face of danger, is to look fear in the eyes and say “You, Fear, you have no place in me. I won’t be bound up in you.”
To have fear is to be in a place of spiritual bondage or oppression. It starves us of peace and joy. It leads to bitterness, hate, anger and even more fear!
To have courage is the opposite. Courage allows truth, understanding and wisdom to prevail in the situation. Courage is the positive reaction to a negative situation. God designed man to be courageous not fearful. It is well within the ability of every human being to have courage, but true courage is strengthened by faith. If your faith is rooted in things that can fail… people, government, doctors, medicine, vaccines, businesses, transportation, armies, organizations or even your own strengths and abilities… Then your courage will ultimately fail. But, if your faith is built on a rock which cannot fail, then when the storms of life come calling… the floods, earthquakes, famine, job loss, Covid… You will be able to stand in the face of fear and say “No! I choose courage, I choose faith.”
Saco River Farms is built on faith not fear. Which is why, instead of closing up shop in 2020 we expanded our operations; doubling our green house space, adding ducks, pigs, seedlings, a new full serve farm market, meat chickens, duck eggs as well as hundreds of new farm fresh and artisan products. We also expanded our dairy to include a cheese cave allowing us to make many new cheeses.
A sign hangs outside our new market which reads “Fear Optional Establishment”. It is a simple reminder that fear is not mandatory. That we all can make the choice to react differently if we so choose. There is no right or wrong choice, but the choice is optional. So choose well the next time fear rears its ugly head. Choose courage, choose faith!