Comments on: On fear and flying http://www.readjulia.com/life/archives/351 Writer Julia Smillie muses on life in Ann Arbor, Michigan Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:31:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Big Al http://www.readjulia.com/life/archives/351#comment-2270 Big Al Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:40:27 +0000 http://www.readjulia.com/life/archives/351#comment-2270 I know this is OLD OLD OLD (like me!), but I read this and had to comment (I can feel Julia cringing as she reads this..). Faith is not an absence of fear. We all have fears. To me, faith is overcoming fear. Flying is not "difficult" for me, but also not something I do frequently. I do not think that "this could be the flight that goes down", even though it surely could be. The odds are against me dying in a plane crash. Just as the odds are against me winning the lottery (you know, you gotta buy a ticket for that, too!). I believe that I have shown the greatest amount of faith when I have taken on tasks that I didn't, prior to doing it, believe that I could accomplish. But, because of my faith in God, I was given strength to complete the task. I believe that I am called to perform tasks I would not, without God's help, be able to do on my own. And that God equips me to do the tasks He calls me to perform. This is what I believe on that: "God does not call the qualified; God qualifies the called." I have faith that I'll be all right in situations where it seems pretty scary. I've been right so far.. I know this is OLD OLD OLD (like me!), but I read this and had to comment (I can feel Julia cringing as she reads this..).

Faith is not an absence of fear. We all have fears. To me, faith is overcoming fear. Flying is not “difficult” for me, but also not something I do frequently. I do not think that “this could be the flight that goes down”, even though it surely could be. The odds are against me dying in a plane crash. Just as the odds are against me winning the lottery (you know, you gotta buy a ticket for that, too!).

I believe that I have shown the greatest amount of faith when I have taken on tasks that I didn’t, prior to doing it, believe that I could accomplish. But, because of my faith in God, I was given strength to complete the task. I believe that I am called to perform tasks I would not, without God’s help, be able to do on my own. And that God equips me to do the tasks He calls me to perform.

This is what I believe on that: “God does not call the qualified; God qualifies the called.”

I have faith that I’ll be all right in situations where it seems pretty scary. I’ve been right so far..

]]> By: Candace http://www.readjulia.com/life/archives/351#comment-1349 Candace Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:00:20 +0000 http://www.readjulia.com/life/archives/351#comment-1349 I both love and hate take-off and landing. And I love and hate sitting by the window. I used to fix A-10s and F-16s as a "weekend warrior " (Air Guardsman) and I know a lot of the things that can go wrong with planes. :-P Take-off is a rush, but it's also one of the most dangerous times. Landing is a relief, but again, one of the statistically most dangerous times. And sitting by the window might afford a view of a flap or aileron that happens to break off, or rivets that look loose. ^_^ Though I'm not paralysed by my fear, it's better for me to just stick my head in the sand. I totally understand where you're coming from . :-) I don't think that fear is necessarily the absence of faith. I once heard it said by a pastor that "faith implies doubt." I think that's bang on, because without that space for doubt, it wouldn't be faith, it would be knowledge. Faith and fear can co-exist IMO. I love the imagery of you building your spiritual sandcastle in the corner. :-) I both love and hate take-off and landing. And I love and hate sitting by the window. I used to fix A-10s and F-16s as a “weekend warrior ” (Air Guardsman) and I know a lot of the things that can go wrong with planes. :-P Take-off is a rush, but it’s also one of the most dangerous times. Landing is a relief, but again, one of the statistically most dangerous times. And sitting by the window might afford a view of a flap or aileron that happens to break off, or rivets that look loose. ^_^ Though I’m not paralysed by my fear, it’s better for me to just stick my head in the sand. I totally understand where you’re coming from . :-)

I don’t think that fear is necessarily the absence of faith. I once heard it said by a pastor that “faith implies doubt.” I think that’s bang on, because without that space for doubt, it wouldn’t be faith, it would be knowledge. Faith and fear can co-exist IMO.

I love the imagery of you building your spiritual sandcastle in the corner. :-)

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