Does feeling fear mean you should stop? #quotes @CAmanpour

Christianne Amanpour in the field… literally! 🙂

Cristiane Amanpour, my favorite news correspondent since high school, recently shared some wise words about responding to fear. When asked if she fears for her safety out in the field (this lady goes to the middle of the action to get the story- some pretty dangerous spots), she responded,

“I always fear for my safety… all our colleagues do. Now that doesn’t mean to say that I don’t go. We do go… Employing that sixth sense that with experience comes, you know sort of when to put your foot forward and when to draw back a bit. You’re not out there gung-ho and… out there sort of being a cowboy… But you are out there because it is vital to tell the stories.” [1]

I loved that, and I agree. We cannot be ignorant of the risk, but the risk cannot stop us from doing what we were made to do. We learn wisdom as we go into difficult places, and then we operate in that wisdom.

“No matter how dangerous it is out there, you cannot just sit back at home as opinion-mongers, armchair warriors, as I like to call people who… think that they can tell you what’s going on overseas from sitting back here in New York or Washington or wherever it is in the United States.” [1]

Again- love that. I do not want to sit back as a commentator to human tragedy. But if I engage, realistically, I will be affected. But, tell me, what is the greater tragedy? To face suffering, loss, grief, or even death while living the life you were made for – or to live within the bounds of a false construct called security?

As long as I’m on a roll with quotes, here’s one more from JRR Tolkein’s character, Éowyn:

“[I fear a cage.] To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of great deeds has gone beyond recall or desire.”

True security has no boundaries, and it is no cage. Finding myself in the center of His purpose is all the security I need.