"No," replied the other man. "Do you know anything about gas stoves?"

Now here were two fearless individuals, single minded and not thinking about their situation but only on the job at hand. They were staying cool as a cucumber in the very face of danger. How do you react to danger? Fortunately, most of us will never have to face the situation of an unopened parachute or an exploding gas stove, but, as the Bible says, each day has evils enough not to worry about tomorrow.

One of the so-called reality shows on television last season was called Fear Factor. Contestants were challenged to do a lot of stupid things that would be life threatening except they were tucked into crash gear and harnessed to keep anything too bad from happening; if the contestant accomplished the task, he or she moved on to the next challenge. That they did frightening things is certain; however, that they risked their lives was show business.

Fear is almost a by-word in our society. Certainly no one can deny that there is danger in most of what we do. The interstate highway will claim its toll; so will railroad crossings, aircraft accidents, crime, and a thousand and one accidents that occur every day in the "safety" of the home. In all of these situations a little fear brings caution and is healthy.

Fear becomes a problem when the things we fear offer very little threat to us. A paranoia, a constant dread and worry when there is really nothing to be feared. I'm not addressing the phobias, the unreasoning fear of specific places, situations or things, but rather the vague and general fear of the world around us that is causing many to miss the joy of living.

Locked doors and drawn shades closing out the sunlight rob a person of the joy of living. Suspicion of anyone and everyone robs us of the joy of friendship. A fear of the unfamiliar robs us of the joy of adventure and learning about other places and other people.

When we lived in Turkey some years ago, there were Americans living in Ankara who never left their apartments except to quickly run to the American bus stop for a trip to the American BX and back home again. The sites and ruins of the great cities of the ancient world lay within a quick drive and yet remained unseen through fear.

Is there an answer to fear in a dangerous world? I would suggest that there is, especially for the Christian. We sing "He has the whole world in His hands" but will not trust Him with our lives. We read "Ye, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil" and then will not trust that which we say we believe. We sing "Amazing grace, so sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see." By God's grace we can face each day. We can trust Him to carry us through the valley and safely to the other side. That old song continues “. . . and grace my fears relieved." The next time you begin to have those vague fears, put them in the hands of Jesus.