February 22
A Reason to Be Careful
We hesitate before agreeing to something risky, and somebody suggests we need more faith. Perhaps they mean well. Still, the suggestion can make us ashamed of a concern worth examining. We may begin treating caution as a spiritual defect, as though reliance upon God required us to ignore what experience has taught us.
Fear sometimes points toward a real responsibility. We might need more information, a second opinion, or a clear understanding of what we are being asked to accept. As Bill Sees It allows fear a place in learning prudence and respect. The difficulty is discerning when caution serves the situation and when it protects us from every unfamiliar experience. We are unlikely to settle that distinction by calling ourselves cowardly. Honest discussion gives facts a hearing alongside feelings. A thoughtful refusal may be appropriate; so may a willing yes. Neither answer becomes faithful simply because it looks brave to someone watching.
What deserves a closer look before I dismiss my concern as a lack of faith?
I would like to understand what I am agreeing to.
For the A.A. nerds: As Bill Sees It, No. 22, “Fear as a Steppingstone.”