Faith
In the Gospel stories, Jesus encountered people relegated to the margins because of illness and sinfulness, which were believed at the time to be connected; illness was seen as the result of the person’s sin or that of their family. When Jesus healed them, he attributed it to their faith. But faith in who or what? They had been told by family and their community that they were unlovable, not even by God. But Jesus showed them not only that God is love, but that God loved them. They had the audacity to believe that they were created in the image and likeness of that love, and that they were loved!. This is the faith that can move mountains. When confronted with disturbance, having faith to believe that we too are created from love can help us overcome the tendency to fight, fawn, flee, or freeze and rather engage so that we are a message of love for others.
Fortitude
Jesus recognized how important courage is in the face of adversity or pain to avoid the temptation to give in to fight, fawn, flee, or freeze. Repeatedly, he told his disciples not to be afraid. Jesus showed them the boldness and resilience that comes from believing that we are loved. Fear can be crippling. It can also cause us to view the “other” with suspicion and give in to stereotypes. Overcoming bias and judgment takes strength and boldness. The risk of getting burned or hurt is real. But when we have the fortitude to overcome that fear, new horizons open up. We can see things with new eyes and realize our fear was misplaced.
Forgiveness
Often, our fears are based on having put ourselves out there, only to have been betrayed, rejected, or hurt. Fight, flight, fawn, and freeze are simply defense mechanisms to keep that from happening again. But at what price? The theologian Lewis B. Smedes said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Perhaps that is why when Jesus was asked how many times we need to forgive, he said seven times seventy, in other words, always. Failing to forgive can keep us from taking the risk of encounters that will bring about healing and new opportunities for loving relationships. And yes, that applies to forgiving ourselves as well.
Freedom
In his mission statement in his hometown before he began his public ministry, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah to announce that he came to “proclaim liberty to captives and ... let the oppressed go free” (Luke 4:18). Although often attributed to Nelson Mandela, it was Marianne Williamson who wrote, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” And, “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Jesus is our model for what it means to be free. Although tempted, he did not let the temptation to fight, fawn, flee, or freeze imprison him. He showed us that nothing, not even death, can keep us from God’s love. His invitation to live in that freedom transformed people around him. When we liberate ourselves from our fears and engage in encounters, not only are we transformed, but so are those we meet. This releases the joy that God intends for us.
In conclusion, embracing the four positive F-words—Faith, Fortitude, Forgiveness, and Freedom—can lead us to a deeper, more joyful existence. By cultivating faith, we anchor ourselves in the belief that we are loved and lovable. Fortitude empowers us to face our fears and challenges with courage. Forgiveness liberates us from past hurts and opens the door to healing and renewed relationships. Finally, freedom allows us to live authentically and engage with others fully, spreading joy and love as God intended. As we navigate beyond the comfort of the shore, let us remember these guiding principles and strive to transform our automatic fear responses into intentional actions of love that bring us closer to the true joy that God intends for us all.
