Where does Fear Live?
What are you truly afraid of…
Where does fear live?
In the recesses and pockets of shame? Guilt?
In words spoken from pulpits, back rooms, board rooms, oval offices?
In voices that made us tremble when they said our name?
At tombs?
Old ones. New ones.
Ones in our minds where someone left this journey and we never told them our truth, our pain or how much we loved them?
Tombs where bones were laid to rest…forgotten… until someone dug them up again and placed the skeleton in your closet?
In churches or sanctuaries where words spewed from the mouths of men reminding us that we sinned, stumbled, or spoke when we were trained to be silent?
In our bodies… Holding the ancestral stories, secrets, and memories of women who tried to set themselves free - women who did set themselves free…
Some were called Overcomers…
Some called witches.
Some called whores.
Some called prostitutes.
Some called feminist.
Some called unforgivable.
Some called warriors.
Some called vigilant.
Some called anointed.
Some called holy.
I was in a session today online with about 100 people mostly women in attendance. As we shared and listened over the hour we had together the common thread of several in the space said, “fear“ or “I am not enough “when asked to share in the chat, “What holds you back from creating, writing, or living into the thing that calls to you from your inner being?”
I felt this fear over the weekend.
Do I expand into my soul and allow the Divine Feminine to unravel the fears of the past. The fears of the present. The fears of the unknown and live into the beauty of the Feminine Spirit within me. Without fear of what someone else might consider me to be…
Brené Brown famously says, “You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot have both.” To her, courage is not the absence of fear; it is moving forward despite feeling it. If you aren’t feeling a little afraid, you probably aren’t doing anything particularly brave.
What are you truly afraid of?
Where does fear live in your world?
“Fear is not a sign of weakness. Fear is an indicator of bravery and vulnerability.”
“You should name your fear to take away its power …” Brené Brown.
So perhaps after this past weekend this is me beginning to name some things that have pinned fear to the walls and architecture of my being. I am visiting the scaffolding of my inner sanctuary to name some things. To remind myself with regular frequency that resurrection is naming the stone that has been rolled away, yes… and it is also naming what no longer has power over my feminine spirit and soul…
And I say again… To remind myself with regular frequency that every resurrection is a reminder that fear no longer holds what the tomb has named, released, and called forth into new life.
Fear is a complex and layered subject… we all know this. We have lived it. Have you found that naming your fears, as Brené suggests, to move you? Do you agree with her? Disagree? What are you truly afraid of? What does it handcuff you to?
Love Expands the Table ~ Shelly
The Way of Mary Magdalene…
It feels appropriate during this season of Lent to lean into this way of naming, rolling stones, and finding new ways that life surges from within. To lean into the Way of the Magdalene a little closer. A little longer. Walking with her. Watching her. Remembering a frequency that was not heard inside the tomb… but outside the tomb. In the open and expansive backdrop of love where fear melts into the words spoken to her… by her beloved.
Table Conversations
Join table this week where we will make space for your story.
How is prayer showing up in your life right now? Perhaps during Lent you have been praying more. In light of our current involvement in the war in Iran how then should we pray? Is God listening? Is Spirit engaged?
Liz Cooledge Jenkins will share during Table this week about a current project she is involved in as she takes us on a journey with her into the land of Post-Evangelical / Post-Christian prayers. We welcome Liz to Table and look forward to hearing more from her as we gather to discuss this ancient practice and the work of Spirit in the world and how prayer shapes us… the literal point of prayer… how it shapes us.
Go here to Table Chat on Substack and introduce yourself. You will receive the Zoom details for our Wednesday Table Conversations.
Share the Expansionist Podcast and Expansionist website. You will find the Wisdom Manifesto as well as links to our podcast located on the site. These items are available and we offer them freely. Share them with anyone… and yes, share them with those who believe in the power of wisdom, spirit and love.
