It is the mind-killer.

Yet so many of us, so often, willingly surrender our consciousness to this weapon of mass destruction.

Some may seek the origins of our culture of fear amid the dust and twisted steel of two fallen towers, and I suppose the current wave has been fed in part by such violent change. But it seems to me that any society, any group, any individual can succumb to the trap of living in fear.

So often, traumatic events trigger an emotional response, prompting us to shove our cultural pendulum in an opposite direction. Our complacency, we conclude, has led us to this pass. “Never again,” we vow. Even when the actions are justified – or even correct – the Law of Unintended Consequences threatens to devour us in the day after.

“… but most of all – we (are) at war with ourselves.”

Terrorism, racism, immigration, the environment, the economy, disease, crime, over-eating, under-eating, religion, sexuality – I could probably fill this post with nothing but a laundry-list of contemporary cultural bugaboos. And as we pave the road to hell trying to fix these problems – or prevent them from impacting us or the ones we love – the first casualty is often our common sense, followed rapidly by our common decency.

We allow our fears of what might be to rob us of our capacity to touch others through what should be.

Relationship requires risk.

Demands it.

Commands it.

“A new command I give you: love one another.”

No coincidence, certainly, that Christ used the imperative when it comes to love. And interesting, too, that a commonly shared bit of Bible trivia is that the most oft-repeated command in all of scripture is “Do not be afraid.”

We fear many things, but at the root of it all we fear to reach out, to connect, to touch. We fear that our action will not be received and returned. We find safety in numbers, and it is easier to crouch at the center of a crowd than to step out alone and face fear. Yet it takes just one Rosa Parks, one Gandhi, to start a crack in the wall; and before you know it, CNN cameras are rolling as thousands tear it down for the world to see.

About ten years ago, the movie Se7en was a popular thriller for many reasons, including the story. The disturbing and grim portrait of a serial killer gripped many viewers, but what I found most enthralling was also very often overlooked by the people with whom I held water-cooler chats. Kevin Spacey’s intelligent and implacable character seems to have set in-motion an impenetrable chain of events – fed by the human nature of his victims – that, by his design, will ultimately result in the creation of a twisted tapestry, a masterwork of death. He seems to suggest that in some sick way, we cannot help but see the logic and inevitability of his end.

To me, however, what stood out most glaringly was that any one of his victims could have brought his entire house of cards crashing down, and destroyed his beautiful wickedness with a simple act of civil disobedience. Each of the murderer’s seven “judgments” relied on the victim to take action resulting in death. Of course, Spacey’s character threatened other terrors should they refuse to comply, but what if any one of them had refused? All it takes is for one person to yell “stop” – and the “message” is lost. The plan is ruined. Pondering the fact that anyone could have – yet no one did – that is what made this film work for me.

“Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.”

– Bertrand Russell

In the aftermath of hurt, as fear grips a community, a voice – collective or individual – emerges, urging action be taken. “We must protect ourselves.” And most of the time, the community listens. Some will doubt. A few will even speak aloud their misgivings. “The needs of the many …” they will be told; in lovingly condescending tones.

The die is cast.

The pendulum swings.

Satan, laughing, spreads his wings.

I have watched, as people congratulate one another on their stalwart refusal to touch, to feel, to love. I have seen fear grip a community so thoroughly that no one dares risk closeness, connection, growth. I have cried as I saw the hope disappear from the eyes of others, realizing that their willingness to risk relationship would be unwelcome, misunderstood, even punished.

I have listened to the tears of a child, rejected and alone; when the fears of others would not allow comfort and compassion to overrule.

As Agent Smith intones in ‘The Matrix’ – “it is the sound of inevitability.” We cannot go back. And yet those of us who saw and enjoyed watching Neo’s transformation know, the next moment witnessed his refusal to comply. To, as the late-William F. Buckley said, “Stand athwart history yelling: ‘Stop!’ ”

“People have forgotten what the human touch is, what it is to smile, for somebody to smile at them, somebody to recognize them, somebody to wish them well.”

– Mother Teresa

I will continue to reach out, to touch, to connect, to love.

I refuse to let fear rule my choices and my actions.

The risk of relationship with others is a risk I will continue to take, no matter how many times the result is disappointment.

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

Can we – as individuals – find the strength to live these words?

Can we – as a society – find purpose in something other than crisis?

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

- Frank Herbert, Dune, “Litany Against Fear”