Security and Power

Helen Keller said "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable."

When I first read this, I didn't agree with her but the more I thought about it and the more I remembered her life's experiences, I was able to put the comment in its proper context. Helen Keller wasn't advocating the pursuit of dangerous activities or paths, but promoting a way of life that is not paralyzed by fear.

By "free spirits" I believe she was referring to those people who are not hampered by convention that has no meaning and not to those who abandon principles to participate in hedonism.

I remember clearly in the Sixties, when the term "free spirit" was bandied about by those who determined their world needed to be amplified by drugs and alcohol because they had difficulty seeing beauty in the realities of life. In truth, they were not free at all, but rather shackled by dependence on artificial happiness and counterfeit joy.

I have been watching the latest Ken Burns documentary on PBS, called, "The War". Here we see a horrible history of men killing other men for the spectrum of reasons both honorable and sinister. Amid the terrible tragedy are flowers of righteous purpose as he tells the stories of heroes who would not think themselves as such.

Last week my daughter attended the funeral for a fallen soldier in her community. As I read her account, I saw blossoms of hope amid unspeakable tragedy and sadness. I have asked for heaven's blessing to be with this hero's family as the hero has, no doubt, ascended into heaven for no man hath greater love...

Shortly after reading Helen Keller's words, I read other words, words written by a prophet of God.

Ezra Taft Benson said " When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest,
Then God will endow us with power from on High."

It occurred to me that this might be the key to finding joy and freedom to sustain us in this weary world. The question then, is, "How do we do it?". The answer, I believe, is found in Helen Keller's philosophy of living life courageously.

It takes no courage to ignore principles. It requires no bravery to follow the whims of the crowds when they abandon eternal principles in favor of indulging themselves on the tempting fruits offered up by Satan with his lie that those who follow him "will not die".

It takes monumental courage to say, in the face of terrible trials, "...nevertheless, Thy will be done."

I pray that God will grant me the courage to face the world with a desire for absolute obedience and that He might touch my children with that righteous desire as well.