By MaryAnne Brown
Journal & Press
The flashing red and blue lights lit up the street, and we could hear a woman crying out. My friend Tom and I walked up the street to see who needed help, and that’s when we saw her — a young Hispanic woman, trembling beside her car, her hands shaking as she tried to communicate with the officers. It was a simple traffic violation — rolling through a stop sign after coming home from work — but the fear radiating from her was heartbreaking.
Instinctively, we moved toward her, hoping to offer a word of calm, a human bridge over the terror we saw in her eyes. Before we could speak, an officer barked sharply at us to stay back. His tone, abrupt and forceful, startled me more than I care to admit. I stepped away, but inside, something cracked open — a flood of helplessness, anger, and fear that stayed with me long after the scene had cleared.
Later, as we talked over the situation, Tom and I agreed that her great fear was likely due to the current government crackdown on immigrants.
Once home in bed, I failed to sleep much, thinking of this woman and wondering if she was able to rest at all. As my mind wandered, deeper fears and chaos in my own heart began to surface — about injustice, helplessness, and division in today’s world. My personal worries emerged too: adjusting to life without Don, living within a new budget, wondering where and when to move, and how not to burden others. All of it contributed to my restless night.
Thinking back to an earlier difficult time in life, I recalled a song that I often played and sang: Be Not Afraid. Once I settled my mind on this music, I finally found some peace and drifted into sleep.
This hymn, composed in 1975 by Jesuit priest Robert J. Dufford, draws on the comforting promises of Scripture — Isaiah 43 (“When you pass through raging waters... you shall not drown”) and Luke 6 (“Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs”). The reassuring refrain — “Be not afraid, I go before you always. Come, follow me, and I will give you rest” — never gets old.
Fear is not new; people have always struggled with it. Major fears are especially difficult — waiting for medical test results, wondering if our retirement savings will last, and other heavy concerns. Smaller fears can trouble us, too, whether it’s worrying about reaching our destination after the gas light comes on or hoping the dog can hold out until we get home for a walk. Most of us have lived through moments of deep fear when we’ve asked God, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Throughout Scripture, we hear God’s steady reassurance: “Do not be afraid.” From the Deuteraonomy, “Be strong and courageous, do not fear,” to Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee, to the risen Christ greeting the disciples with peace, God knows our human tendency to fear and answers it with mercy and strength.
Other leaders, too, have spoken to fear’s paralyzing grip. President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said during a time of deep national uncertainty, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. faced hatred and danger with a deep trust in God’s justice and love, urging others to meet fear with nonviolence and hope. Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh taught that fear keeps individuals focused on the past or concerned about the future, and that living fully in the present can dispel fear’s hold. This ancient wisdom and these courageous examples show us how we can respond to fear with faith and presence.
When fear threatens to overtake us, small practices can help steady our hearts. A simple breath prayer — whispering a reassuring word or phrase while breathing slowly — can calm an anxious mind. Keeping a favorite Scripture verse or meaningful quote close by, whether in a wallet, a journal, or even in your memory, offers an anchor. Reaching out in small acts of kindness, even when we feel overwhelmed ourselves, reminds us that we are not alone. And staying connected to friends, faith communities, or neighbors helps to dispel the isolation that often magnifies fear.
I still think of that trembling young woman and wish I could have done more to ease her fear. But I also know now that even when we cannot fix a fearful situation, we can refuse to let fear rule our own hearts. We are called to be bearers of peace in a world that sorely needs it. The Holy One who goes before us, is already present in the places we are afraid to go, and promises again and again, “Be not afraid.”
MaryAnne Brown, RN, BSN, MA is a music minister at St. Joseph’s Church and has a special interest in spirituality and health. She serves on the Retreat Team at Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna and provides grantwriting services.
The Journal & Press Community Talent Show!
As a part of Union Village Fest, The Journal & Press will host a Community Talent Show from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, June 13, at the Gazebo. It will be judged by Journal & Press writers, and prizes will be awarded.
If you’d like to show off your talents, send us an email at editor@journalandpress.com.
Advertise in Our Next Issue!
Click here to visit our rate card!
And Now for the Comics — ‘Filbert’ by LA Bonte
More tomorrow!