Seeking the Open Window

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

John Weiss wrote an article in Personal Growth online magazine, and the title alone pulled me into his mind. “Fear Is a Swallow in a Boarded-Up Warehouse.” We can all visualize the experience. If not, go to any Lowes, Home Depot, or Menards. Rather than remain trapped, Weiss calls the reader to seek out your window.

Weiss quotes a “Psychology Today” article, “Fear is a tricky human emotion. It can paralyze you. It can keep you from your dreams. It can keep you small.” Our task as the Church Universal, Westminster Des Moines, and your soul is to move beyond the paralysis and seek the open window. The open window directs us to new horizons of hope, care, and love.

It is easy to give up when we cannot see the window or when bags of wood chips are blocking the view. Our task as people of faith is to keep searching for the window and not give up. We are to care for others and ourselves in the warehouse while always preparing for the day we find the open window. When that day arrives, we suddenly spot it and someone has moved the bags, making our journey outside the warehouse possible, we will be ready to step out at a moment’s notice.

Many of God’s followers around world are seized with fear, and stopped looking and preparing for the open window to God’s next call in our journey. Faith is trusting God daily to give us the strength to trust more than fear and keep looking for the open window. God will help us make a meaningful life in the warehouse, always preparing us for the day when we will soar into the sky beyond.

For some, the warehouse is shrinking church memberships. For others, the warehouse is one’s family, who have distanced themselves because of religious or political differences. Ponder your warehouse, and then ask God to give you the courage to face your fear and keep looking forward to the open window in your life.