Are you afraid?
Me too.

Some people will tell you not to live in fear.
They will tell you that the opposite of fear is love and
try to sell you the snake oil of their watered-down,
ethereal, bypass kind of love.
They will, with good intentions, perhaps,
gaslight your fear.

But I say,
do not fear your fear.
Be afraid if you are afraid.

When someone has a knife to your throat
it is entirely reasonable and right to
be terrified.
And right now,
there is a knife at our collective throat.

Fear is here for a reason:
It says, “Wake up!
Pay attention!
Notice the snake under that bush!”

Fear is biological wisdom.
Fear has kept us alive.
Fear is sacred.

Do not turn your back on fear.
Do not throw it in a hat box,
cover it with frosting and pretend it’s a cake.

Honor it.
Be with it.
Thank it for its wisdom.
Let it know it is not alone.
It has You.
It has Spirit.
It has Community.
Let it know you are listening.

Let it speak its Truth to the Wise Elders.
Let it be honored.

Let it stoke the fires of anger,
which in turn inspires action…
for surely action is needed now.

And yes,
by whatever means possible,
Love,
fully and fiercely.

Love is medicine for a feral fear.
And it is the holy protectorship of Love
that also inspires action.

So yes.
Yes.
YES!
Love.
Love your fear.
Love your community.
Love your neighbors.

But don’t be fooled.
Love is not just a yummy, oxytocin-fed feeling.
Sometimes, love is a ferocious “fuck you.”

Love was Jesus turning over the tables in the temple.
Love was Rosa Parks, saying, hell no, I will not be moved.

And my love,
Well, my love says, “I see the blackness of this darkness,
and I will be damned if I pretend it’s a mere gray.