Spiders, snakes, heights, tiny space . . . what feels scary to you?

Other things that scare us: mud-slinging politicians, school shootings, low cash flow, a health blow

Studies show that 95% of what we fear is baseless, and the rest are things we must learn to live with.  (John Maxwell in The Difference Maker)

Fear and the Famous

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself . . . “ Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural address, 1933

Gertrude Stein: “Considering how dangerous everything is nothing is really frightening.”

Cardinal J. H. Newman: “Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but that it shall never have a beginning.”

Fear and the Honeycomb

William Shakespeare: “He is not worthy of the honeycomb who shuns the hive because the bees have stings.”

The Tragedy of Locrineattributed to Shakespeare

Joel Beaman and bee hive frame

 

A honeycomb design adorns some windows in the Benedictine Abbey of St. John’s Abbey, in Collegeville, Minnesota

St. John’s Abbey DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU

 

St. John’s Abbey window detail DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU

 

 

Dawn Ruth Nelson in A Mennonite Woman, described as part narrative, part theology, part spiritual memoir, explores the idea that “the shapes people live among in turn shape them. Christians are called to be intentional about giving a God shape to their lives.”

 

 

How Can Faith Counteract Fear?

Scripture

They [the statutes of the LORD] are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.   Psalm 19:11

For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.   II Timothy 1:7

. . . his compassions fail not, They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.    Lamentations 3:22 – 23

Now, the Backsplash

When we moved to our new address, previous owners had undated the kitchen but didn’t complete it with a backsplash. On a positive note, that is a good thing. Now I get to choose the design and color.

A hexagonal pattern, suggestive of a beehive, may be appropriate because it alludes to sweetness, stability, and spirituality. The “Bee” image even matches the initial of my last name. We’ll probably choose something from a lighter palette than shown below.

We’ll see!


  • Do you like the hexagonal honeycomb design” What other patterns are pleasing to you?
  • What quotes or comments about faith or fear can you add?