Fear is a terrible emotion. It is just plain awful to be afraid. To allow oneself to be intimidated or to be constantly on the defensive because one is unable to act or speak, is simply not a desirable position. The fear can be real, imagined or marginal, but fear is fear and it can be paralyzing.

Mild fear can be an asset. I am sure that many of you can remember Dad saying, "If you don't have the car home by 10 o'clock, I'll skin you alive!" I had the car back by 8:30.

Fear of failure motivates us to study harder, be more concerned with job performance, keep us on our toes and in general can be positive.

My grandmother, who was a very nice person, grew up in the mountains of Virginia and I mean the mountains. She was so far back in the hills that a trip to the store took half a day to get there and a half a day to get back. She was also raised in a very, very primitive Baptist church and discipline was the order of the day. Her idea of raising kids was quite simple. She believed it was her God-given duty to jerk a knot in their tails. If the punishment — or the threat of punishment -- was bad enough, then the children would walk the straight and narrow path. When I would spend a few nights with Mom and Dad Brown — as my sister and I called them — Mom Brown would always tell me bedtimes stories. These were not the cute little stories about furry things to help me sleep. These were tales right out of Dante's "Inferno" or Milton's "Paradise Lost." She would tell me about burning pits of fire, slime and devils with pitchforks who always had a high time with mean little kids. I felt pretty sorry for those mean little kids, whoever they were. After those tales, she would say, "Good night, sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite."

I'd always say a prayer for the mean little kids out there.

Now we have the right to be afraid of some things, but if fear cannot be controlled, our lives can be miserable.

Some of you may remember the Great Wallenda, one of the most famous high-wire walkers. When we lived in Sarasota, Fla., we could drive by his home in the evenings — when the circus was off season — and watch him as he would practice in his backyard. We would stop so the kids could see him and he would wave when he made it to the platform. He was performing one day and walking between two very tall buildings. He was only feet away from the platform when he lost his balance and fell to his death. His wife agreed to an interview not long after and told the reporter, "This was a routine walk and he always looked forward to the thrill and sense of accomplishment. But this time, at supper, he talked about what he could do to keep from falling. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He fell."

None of us, I hope, will ever have to face the danger of any life-threatening situation either by choice or chance. However, we will always face the unknown, so let's find something we can hang on to, grab for support and cling to long enough to regain our balance.

The opposite of fear is faith. Faith stands powerfully against all those things that we fear.

Fear of anger will not keep us from speaking the truth when we have faith. Fear of rejection will keep us from loving when we have faith. Fear of tomorrow will not keep us from meeting each new day when we have faith. The fear of death will not keep us from living every moment when we have faith.

This does not mean to have no concern about our work, health, education, environment, world, and even a war against a determined aggressor. Fear immobilizes us. Faith motivates us.

The final word. It is God Almighty who holds us in the palm of His hand. "Be strong and take courage. There is no fear for the faithful!"

Thanks, God!