Community:Church of the Dark Star/Sermons/20160820 Order Being Scared"

"Being Scared", from the perspective of the Order Belief, presented by Kazyn Phoenixfyre

My grandfather used to tell me all the time, when i was young and afraid or too timid to do something, or try something... he would tell me that i need not feel ashamed of being afraid, for a man isnt defined by whether he has fear in his heart -- but instead they are defined by what they do with it once its there. Given this man fought several wars on many continents of the planet. I was inclined to think he might know a thing or two about the subject *chuckles*

Fear in and of itself, is just a concept to us. A built in reaction, one chemical firing another and our brain interpreting it, sending us a signal in our heads to remind us of danger. But to many, it is much more than that. throughout the ages we have turned fear into this complex machine, this multi faceted part of our psychology. We find ways to fear everything from pain to change, to love, and believe it or not... even success!

What you are afraid of, and what you do when you are afraid in fact are very good identifiers of who you are inside. A part of you that you may well not even know. A leader is afraid of letting down others, a tyrant is afraid of losing control, an empath is afraid of losing their friends of causing them pain, there are in fact so many types of fears that entire encyclopedias have been built upon the subject. And to soe of us, we live by it. Many play their life safely. Fear is their barrier, their way of knowing and understanding in their minds what they can and can not do. Not because they CANT do it... but because they are afraid to know for sure because they are afraid of the POTENTIAL for failure, they choose instead - to never try.

And that is the worst fear of all - the fear of potential. The kind oft. spoken by amber just moments ago and the fear that is often at the root of MANY decisions we make day to day you see, humans in general - have always been afraid of the unknown. What we dont know, what we cant understand. If we cant figure it out then we fear it - we see it as a danger to us.

This is in fact the very reason so many conflicts have started over the years between order and chaos. Because inherently those who follow one often have trouble understanding the other. A trend im sure youll all recognize from just about every era of human history

But it is so much deeper than that. We cage ourselves in from trying just because we are afraid of potential. What amber would call the "Fear of outcome". We dont know if we can, so we dont Some - those who truly understand, who want to do better, who want to learn - they may do it anyway. They may shed that prison of doubt and jump into the unknown but so many others sit back. We watch the lives we think we want from across the way, and we take no steps to grab what we want or strive to be better -- and all because were afraid of the possibility of failure.

But let me tell you all a secret here this day, Fear is in fact a construct of our own. Whether it is telling someone you care about how you feel, or striving for that better job, or improving youself in any number of ways - or just trying something different - The only one who can tell you what you can and can not do is you. The strength of your human character, and its limits... all begin and end with that one decision - Yes, or no? Do you choose to accept fear, stay safe, not make waves. Or do you choose to determine your own path.

For simply BEING afraid is not a bad thing, and in fact many people who accomplish the most in this world did so as they too were constantly afraid. They were afraid at any point their dream could end, their road they paved may come to a stop - but they kept walking. And when the road ran out - they made a trail of their own. Staying safe and bowing to fear is a path to mundane at best, and imprisonment at worse. To truly learn of who you are and your potential you have to *act* in the face of those fears. you have to *try* because if you dont then not only will you never know if you could or could not - but youll always doubt yourself for never finding out.

Whatever it is you find yourself fearful of. Whatever it is that causes you to stop in you tracks and be indecisive i challenge you all today - remember in yourselves that fear does not make you less of a person, but letting it define who you are will always weaken you. Instead when you feel fear, own it, and try anyway. And if you fail once then know that is okay. The greatest triumphs are built not upon a single success, but the act of trying is what strengthens and defines us. If you learn to do this then you can live truly unafraid.

Thank you all, and good day