Have No Fear

“As I sat in the oratory, weary to my core, I suddenly heard a voice say, ‘Have no fear, my daughter, for I AM, and I will never leave you. Have no fear.’” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)

Today during my prayers I was weary to the core.

Yesterday morning I had energy to do my daily work. God’s hands and my hands were one, and I started the day with a good amount of pep and a light-hearted spirit. During centering prayer I was settled and focused, thankful to the Holy One for the on-going assistance we have received in the midst of a variety of struggles—job and housing questions for our new graduate Rebecca, medical issues for my sister Bobette’s elbow, and a leaky oil well on the Gulf coast which is upsetting the lives of millions of living beings. All of these situations are difficult, and the suffering has been laid out before God who can do all things.

The Holy One is gracious, kind and very much present in these struggles, and I continue to be grateful for the many ways we are being supported; however, by yesterday afternoon we were handed yet again another difficulty in the form of heartbreak, the unexpected death of a well-respected, vibrant leader, the president of Concordia College, sixty-five year old Pamela Jolicoeur.

The world as I knew it tipped with the news of Dr. Jolicoeur’s stroke and turned upside down upon news of her death. So much pain and uncertainty is present in this sudden loss, and the mourning is as deep and wide as the admiration, love and respect Dr. Jolicoeur has inspired throughout the Concordia community and national higher education. Facing such a significant loss, many of us in mourning today are bone, bone tired.

Teresa tells us she, too, has been bone, bone tired, but in those terrible moments she was not alone. While praying in the oratory, she hears a voice which says—“Have no fear, for I AM.” This story echoes across the ages, and we have heard it time and time again: God sees the suffering of the people, and God sends help. Just like Moses heard the voice emanating from the burning bush, the bush which could not be consumed although the fire was fierce, Teresa hears a voice which says “Have no fear, for I AM.” It is a voice that calls to us whenever we are in distress, whenever we are lonely, whenever we are bone, bone tired.

This morning in my deep weariness, I am remembering the voice of comfort and action Teresa heard so long ago and it is helpful to me in this present moment: “Have no fear, my daughter, for I AM, and I will never leave you. Have no fear.” May we listen for that same voice today—the voice Moses heard, the voice Teresa heard—and may we find the strength we need for daily life and God’s work, today and every day.