First Baptist Church of Herndon

A Fine Line

Linda Soller | Jun 01, 2020

It has been my experience that the line between excited anticipation and fear is a fine line. I don’t know about you, but that line is where I am standing today. Excited about getting back to the way things were, or close, and a bit fearful that we will lose sight of safety to get there. So much has happened on the one hand and so much didn’t happen on the other hand, that clearly seeing what is real is a bit of a challenge for me. My optimism and my cautious nature are at odds. Maybe you are feeling that way too.

I was walking in my neighborhood and I stopped to have a socially distanced driveway chat with a longtime neighbor. She goes north/west (specifics omitted intentionally) each summer to enjoy her hometown and spend a cooler summer with family and friends. She said she was getting yard work done that she never had time to complete in the past because she hadn’t left for the summer yet. I asked when she thought she would go, and she said she didn’t really know. It seems to her the people in her summer community have not taken the “rules” to heart. They see an interfering government and she sees a protective one. She wants to be there but is fearful.  She is standing on that fine line. 

I imagine when Jesus was walking about the country teaching there were many people standing on a fine line. They wanted a savior, the promised one, but they feared reprisal. We are fortunate to be able to worship as we wish, but some of us may find ourselves on a similar line. Excited about our faith and what God has done in our lives, and fearful of having to explain our faith if challenged. We know people have questions about God, particularly in difficult times. There is no map to direct you off your fine line. At some point you have to simply step off. At some point you simply have faith.

It is a bit scary out there, share this blog with someone you care about. :o) Linda