This image is a watercolor I created from an illustration in one of my beloved Babar kids books (Babar the King). In the story, Celestville, the city of the elephants has an unusual number of stressful occurances (snake bite and house fire). These, like many things we worry about and stress over, caused Babar to fall prey to fear, but, in his dreams he envisioned winged elephants (hope, love, faith, patience, etc.) driving misfortune away.
These are troubled times. We read in the book of Kings about the prophet, Elisha, who finds himself and the city surrounded by the innumerable enemy. His young companion, upon seeing this asked what they could possibly do. (2 Kings 6:16) “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them….And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about …”
And Joshua is promised, “..Be strong and of a good courage: be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9)
Rudyard Kipling wrote, from his poem, An astrologer’s Song:
Though terrors o'ertake us We'll not be afraid. No Power can unmake us Save that which has made: Nor yet beyond reason Or hope shall we fall-- All things have their season, And Mercy crowns all! Then, doubt not, ye fearful-- The Eternal is King-- Up, heart, and be cheerful, And lustily sing:-- What chariots, what horses, Against us shall bide While the Stars in their courses Do fight on our side?
I don’t know what you do to reduce anxiety, but these verses of scripture and poetry really do open up a pathway for me, and, like the winged elephants, really do help chase away the grip of misfortune.
What do you do? What helps you? Your comments are so welcomed.
