:: in.a.mirror.dimly ::

The greatest virtue is love. Love is what will endure. Love is what makes our salvation and sanctification possible.

However, faith stands out as the first step that makes accepting and sharing love possible. While love is the greatest aim for our lives, it is faith that must be a primary catalyst and ongoing spark throughout our lives.

I see faith as a bridge or perhaps a kind of fuel. It isn’t the ultimate destination or the entire machine, but it is no doubt essential from the start. While in this world we never hit a time when faith isn’t necessary.

Faith keeps the Christian works humming, but our goal isn’t to became faith-filled people. Our goal is to become God-filled people, who are therefore love-filled people since God is love.

As we tap into the essence of God and God’s extraordinary love, it is faith that carries us. It is well and good that God loves us, but it won’t do us any good if we cannot believe in it, trust in it, or rest in it.

However, it isn’t enough to just believe in this love. Faith draws us in to God where we aim to be consumed by his love, his salvation, and his life-changing Spirit. That’s why Jesus said the mark of his followers will be love.

We can’t get to love without faith, but we dare not stop with faith. Faith has connected us with the love of God. We can now spend the rest of our lives believing in and living in the fullness of that love.

Ohio has been one of those states for me that has “stood in the way” of one thing or another, but has never been a destination in and of itself. Whether driving out to college in Indiana, returning home to the East Coast, or retracing my steps to visit friends in Indiana, I can’t recall any times that I’ve set out specifically for Ohio.

I know the eastern section of the state spills onward with long, rolling hills, firming up into flat land before hitting Columbus at the center, and then remaining flat for the duration of I-70 into the notoriously level region of central and northern Indiana.

This past weekend we visited some friends in Columbus to give them a hand with their newborn. It was my first time spending an extended weekend specifically in Ohio.

I’m happily living in the North East now, near ocean and respectable little mountains, and so I didn’t expect to leave Ohio pining to move out there. Believe me, nothing of the sort happened. However, I did see some encouraging signs that Columbus has some good things going for it, even if some sections of the city still need some help.

I was most impressed to see the growth of its own local food culture. With North Market and its farmers market, as well as numerous restaurants in the stadium/arena district and in short north, I saw local businesses growing and even flourishing. I’ve driven through enough dead mid west towns with a hollow shell of a downtown and a booming strip lined with traffic lights just outside of town with every chain restaurant and store imaginable.

While Columbus has that for sure, we drove through many parts of the city that felt well-planned out and cared-for. Neighborhoods throughout the city have their own farmers markets, and several small businesses we visited seemed to be weathering these tough economic times.

Each morning I picked up a great cup of coffee at Crimson Cup Coffee Roasters and on Saturday we had incredible home-made ice cream at Jeni’s in North Market. These are bright spots that I hope are a foretaste of good things to come for Columbus—good things that I hope will continue to extend throughout each neighborhood.

It’s hard to demonize someone after you share a meal together.

I’ve seen folks on the ideological right paint those on the left as freedom-hating regulators who want to squash freedom and ruin America. I’ve also seen folks on the ideological left stir up fear of right wing bigots who want to take over America and run it according to their narrow moral visions.

Each side is unable to countenance the views of the other, demonizing them as ridiculous, nuts, freedom-hating, bigoted, and non-sensible.

I used to be a pretty strident advocate for the right, but over time I met homosexuals, supporters of abortion, atheists, sundry Democrats, and a host of other sub-groups from the left.

On several occasions I shared meals with these people, and as my own views shifted and developed, I learned a bit  more about where they come from. I don’t agree with all that is on the right or left, but now that I know people on both sides, I feel like I can converse freely and understand where people are coming from. This helps me stand up for what I believe without demonizing or writing off those who disagree with my perspective.

When I think about the kind of community that Jesus wanted to create, it’s no mistake that that his final days on earth centered around a meal. Fellowship, prayer, theology, and worship can all be linked in many ways to this meal that Jesus instituted.

Sharing a meal with someone creates a certain degree of common ground. Once you’ve sat with someone for an hour or so, you probably know a little bit about this person’s family, background, and reasons for his/her beliefs.

Several of the courses I took at Biblical Theological Seminary took place over entire days, allowing us time to go out for lunch and dinner together. We didn’t always stick to theology during those meals, but we did manage to forge some pretty powerful bonds that continue to this day. In addition, I found a lot in common with the guys who came from very different theological or ideological backgrounds.

If we’d only debated in class, I would have certainly been inclined to write some of these folks off. However, our meals together forged a greater sense of community and common ground in Christ and in other areas as well. I was better prepared to hear them out and to learn a thing or two from them.

When most Christian theology takes place in classrooms and Sunday School rooms, as well as the contexts of Bible studies, I wonder if we’re missing the crucial component of a community-building meal. I know of many small groups who have adopted a meal-centered format, and have seen it work really well on many occasions.

We need to think a bit more about ways we can make our discussion forms more conducive to fellowship and community—letting our theology grow and develop in the context of meals. If the medium is the message, and Jesus used a meal to teach some of the most important aspects of salvation and theology, then we cannot ignore the ramifications for us today.

I’ve been rereading Tamara Park’s book Sacred Encounters: a chronicle of her pilgrimage from Rome to Jerusalem. Park set out with two friends while she interviewed people in each town and city they visited, asking them to describe God.

This is a book thick with stories, personal reflections, fascinating people, and stirring insight into scripture. Park shares her own anxieties about traveling, being a good pilgrim, and even defining “success” at the conclusion of her journey.

Eric, one of her traveling companions, was the hall director at my “dorm” during my semester at Jerusalem University College. He possessed a tremendous capacity to study, often sitting in his room surrounded by an army of books. At key points in the narrative, Eric offers some excellent points of Biblical interpretation and brings these ancient texts alive. It’s good to know all of that study has really paid off!

The opening story about Eric calling his parents from the airport at Tamara’s behest to inform them that he’d be taking a little journey with his friends had a ring of truth to it.

Part travel diary, part devotional, and part meditation, Sacred Encounters will suck you in to this age-old journey to the holy land. I can think of no better book to pack along for a day at the beach or a warm afternoon at a lake.

Staring at a dryer and two baskets full of laundry to fold, I cursed the curse of laundry. I hate folding laundry, even if I must confess my love for neat and orderly drawers of the stuff.

I began to ponder how laundry is like some kind of terrible affliction. And then I considered the fall of humanity into sin and the ramifications of Genesis 3:21:

“The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”

It’s as if God kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden and into a laundry mat. While handing over the animal skins, I imagine God saying, “This is going to annoy you a whole lot more than it’s going to annoy me.”

Oh, for the days of the fig leaf.

In the end, the stubborn rebelliousness of humanity, our penchant for seeking power and control ensured that we would spend countless hours washing, folding, and putting away our clothes. How ironic it is that one residual effect of the fall into sin ensures we have one more tedious thing to do.

While standing in the garden last night in the cool of the evening, checking on the progress of our tomatoes, lettuce, and swiss chard, I sensed so much peace and comfort. It was as if Eden had come again to our yard, with blossoming irises, cosmos, marigolds, and pansies. And then I looked down at my mud-smeared jeans and thought of those cursed laundry baskets waiting for me.

Before summer hits I’m extending a special offer to pastors and small group leaders who are considering which book to use for their small groups and Sunday School classes coming up this Fall. I thought I should help you plan ahead and suggest my book Coffeehouse Theology.

I should first of all state that using my book for a Sunday school class or small group isn’t my idea alone. Here are a few reviews/endorsements:

"This is the ideal text for adult Sunday school classes and home discussion groups." -William Dyrness, Fuller Theological Seminary

“Cyzewski navigates hefty topics with care and, in the process, shows why our language about God must include a wide understanding of the world we inhabit. I would recommend the book to almost any member of my church.”- David Swanson in Leadership Magazine

The Offer…

I have a limited number of copies of Coffeehouse Theology available to send out to pastors and small group leaders who are willing to consider using it for a small group or Sunday School for a free 15-day review. My friends read the whole book in two hours, so you can just read it and send it back. No hard feelings—you just need to chip in $1.40 for media mail.

However, if you want to keep it, just send me a check for $10, which means you got a great deal on a $15 book with free shipping.

You can also pick up either of the book’s two discussion guides. The Bible Study Guide walks readers through the theological method presented in the book with a series of reflections on scripture. The Contemporary Issues Guide applies theology to many of today’s pressing issues.

NavPress offers bulk shipping for Coffeehouse Theology, The Bible Study Guide, and The Contemporary Issues Discussion Guide, so it should be a breeze to get a good deal on books for your class or group.

Sample chapters of each book are available on their respective pages at the NavPress web site.

The Bonus…

I wrote Coffeehouse Theology in order to start conversations, and so your class is welcome to chime in here on my blog while you’re processing the book, and to even drop me a question. We’ve tried out some interaction with classes, and anything more than a few questions is a bit much to handle. But so far as I’m able, I welcome interaction on my web site as I continue to develop the ideas presented in my books.

To Sign Up…

Drop me an e-mail at edcyzewski (at) gmail (dot) com with “Pastor/Small Group Offer” in the subject line. Include your mailing address and name. If I have enough copies, I’ll drop it in the mail for you pronto with a note telling you when the book is due back if you don’t want to cough up the ten bucks.

Happy Reading!

I recently had a number of conversations about Christianity and the Gospel with some folks who would most likely not self-identify as followers of Jesus. In fact, they may have been a tad suspicious of Christianity and evangelicals such as myself. However, I had a chance to talk about not only my beliefs, but my practices—how I join in God’s Kingdom work on earth.

I can’t recall how the conversation went down exactly, but I mentioned things like protecting the environment, visiting prisoners, and supporting ministries that serve others as well as sharing the Gospel. I talked about the ways that God wants to restore and heal our world.

When sin becomes a problem infecting all of us, rather than just this thing that separates YOU personally from God, there’s a lot of room for conversation. We all feel the effects of sin in this world, both personally and corporately, and so speaking of a God who wants to reconcile us and the rest of the world makes good biblical and common sense.

After chatting for a while about these things, the person I spoke with said, “Well, if that’s what it really means to be an evangelical, then I suppose you could call me an evangelical too.” 

In that moment I realized something:  Living out the Gospel makes Jesus more accessible for others. When they realize they too share something in common with God, they no longer view themselves as alien to these evangelicals trying to “save” them.

Don’t get me wrong here, I certainly made it very clear in the course of the conversation that Jesus must be Lord of our lives and that we must make a commitment to follow. I’m not sure where this person ended up with all of that. However, I was encouraged to see the light go on, to find that God isn’t so distant and foreign, and that the people representing this God may not be so strange after all.

I’m far more interested in entering conversation by fostering commonalities, showing people where they are close to God’s Kingdom. In the process of discussing commonalities differences will no doubt be unearthed and discussed. We can’t afford to gloss over sin and the evils of this world, however we can still engage in discussions about common ground, and then move from there to the places where we are different.

We all know this world is screwed up.

We all have felt the effects of sin.

We all want to do try and do something about it, whether for ourselves alone or possibly for others as well.

We need to talk about solutions and the ways forward.

As an evangelical, I believe the way forward is through the loving rule of God in our lives.

I’ll be boarding a plane in less than 12 hours in order to go to Pittsburgh. I need to pack, help clean up the house in case we have to show it this weekend, and tidy up two talks for this weekend, so please forgive me if I keep this short and don’t flesh all of the details out.

Driving to work this morning I heard part of Obama’s speech in Egypt. He said many noble things, tried to reconcile some differences, and generally walked a the fine line required by diplomacy that seeks to honor the interests of other nations, while remaining committed to the interests of your own land.

I get it. He doesn’t want anyone to bomb us, but he needs to get elected in four years. Such is the balancing act of every politician.

However, what I find deeply troubling is the double standard inherent to his approach to the Palestinians in this speech.

By comparing their plight to the civil rights struggles of African Americans and the South Africans, he tried to build a case for non-violent resistance. I can’t remember his exact words, but he made a point of saying that violence would not make things any better for them.

And then I thought about our surge in Afghanistan.

While we shoot up this country, gearing up for a lot more, we’re telling others to pursue the path of nonviolence. As if we really believe it could work…

I understand that Palestine/Israel and Afghanistan are different in many ways, however the rationale for violence can be the same. Both Palestinians and Americans claim to be attacked. Both claim the right to fight to protect themselves. It’s easy to sit back in our comfy homes, pontificating about nonviolence to these people who are penned up in refugee camps, staring at the barrels of guns.

I think Obama said some good things in Egypt. He certainly seems to be giving pragmatic diplomacy a go, which seems to be an improvement over preemptive war. However, I wonder how effective this speech will be at the end of the day. The hard truth is that our actions do not match our words.

Unless we’re willing to figure out ways to neutralize extremists without blowing them and the rest of the countryside up, we frankly have no business telling an oppressed people to pursue nonviolence. That shouldn’t be a tough one to figure out in my book.

I’m not anti-military, and I’m not 100% pacifist. However, I very much worry about the message we send to the rest of the world by pouring so many resources into military campaigns, laying aside half of our national budget for defense spending.

We have told the world that killing people doesn’t work unless we’re the ones pulling the trigger.

It’s never all that comfortable to live by faith, putting service of God’s Kingdom ahead of accumulating wealth. I’m not sure how well we’re doing at it, but we’re giving it a go. I’ve been asking the Lord lately about what it means to seek first the Kingdom of God.

One phrase that helps me get my little brain around such a huge idea is: “Everything is on the table.” I can’t hold anything back from God, be such things personal goals or physical possessions.

We are in a time of transition, looking to move from Vermont to Storrs, Connecticut so my wife can attend the University of Connecticut. After accumulating items for living in a house, we’re cutting back so we can fit into an apartment again. Many of these things are yard sale pick-ups that will be donated or sold for a few bucks.

However, as we move possessions into the garage in preparation for moving day or donation, I’ve been learning how easy it is to get along with less. I can’t even remember many of the items we’ve given away or sold. Even my favorite tie from a few years ago, given away to a friend, doesn’t merit a memory. It’s just gone.

As I give away clothing and books and sell book shelves and other household items, I feel I have a greater sense of seeking first God’s Kingdom. I’m removing items from my life that may get in the way of serving God—lest I refuse to take this next step because I require a big enough house to store all of our possessions, forcing me to find a high-paying job that may take me away from God’s calling to be a writer and speaker.

Seeking first God’s Kingdom seems to have something to do with never holding back from God. Everything is on the table: our house, our location, our possessions.

Of course the one exception to this rule would be our rabbits. Our rabbits will never be on the table…

There are two commands from scripture that stand out as the greatest:

1. Love God

2. Love Others

Everything flows out of these two commands. And yet, it’s a bit strange to think of God commanding us to love him. I can’t imagine that working out all that well in a typical human relationship, so what is the deal here?

God’s love is developed fully throughout scripture as a relational, self-sacrificing love. God is compared to a lover whose spouse has been unfaithful—as in, people are the unfaithful ones to God. While we were sinners, Christ died for us. And so God has made the first, most costly move to have a relationship with us.

Also, if we’ve learned anything from our history, we are very adept at creating our own religions and ways of worshipping God. We tack on guilt, extra sacrifices, and come up with a list of reasons why we are unworthy of God’s love.

Keep in mind that the command to love God in Deuteronomy comes on the heels of Israel’s 400 years in the land of Egypt amidst all manner of idols. If Christianity can become so pervasive in America without being state sanctioned for the past 300 years, you’d better bet there are ramifications to living in a nation where the Pharaoh  stands at the top of a long list of gods. Four hundred years in such a society will influence how you relate to God.

I read God’s command to love as counteracting these influences. The most important part about worshipping God is learning to love God, not what we bring to the table.

God has already loved us, desiring that no one should be separated from his love. Will we reciprocate this love, and meet God on such simple and beautiful terms, or will we try to figure out our own way to God?

I’d rather not rant about this Proposition Eight business. I think it’s more appropriate to mourn this mess spear-headed by Christians and Mormons.

I understand that some Christians see this as a freedom of speech issue, being able to define marriage as they best understand. I also know that many Christians are deeply troubled by defining marriage in terms other than a man and a woman.

However, we need to step back here and look at the larger picture. We need to look at the role of Christians in the grand scheme of things as ambassadors for Christ, ministers of the Gospel, and God’s redemptive people. We don’t have to approve of same sex marriage, but we do have to think of our mission, our reason for being here.

I like the way Paul speaks of his ministry—he describes himself as a good soldier who has to focus on obeying his commanding officer and completing his mission. Anything that gets in the way of that mission must go.

Christians are here on this earth to share the Gospel, to be agents of God’s Kingdom, and to bring redemption to this world. We’re picking up where Jesus left off: preaching the Good News, healing, and discipling. We can certainly involve ourselves in the matters of our state, however, we must carefully weigh whether these matters have an adverse effect on our mission. If they hinder our mission, then our involvement with the state must go.

The fact of the matter is that Christians are generally labeled as anti-homosexual, if not flagrantly homophobic and hateful toward homosexuals. The other fact of the matter is that Jesus has sent us to preach the Gospel to everyone, including this group. Therefore, it is my assertion that this Proposition Eight business has only succeeded in dragging Jesus through the mud and wasting $85 million that we all know could have been put to much, much better use.

Supporters of Proposition Eight spent around $40 million—it’s opponents $45 million. Just think about the impact that money could have had with groups such as World Vision, Prison Fellowship, Not for Sale, or just about any other missions and service group. This money could have saved lives, supported missionaries who preach the Gospel, or at least paid to place the Bible in someone’s hand.

Instead the followers of Jesus are known as intolerant and anti-homosexual. We can talk all day about supporting Prop. Eight while not being anti-gay, but no one will believe us. Our actions are drowning out anything we may say, whether about ourselves or about the Gospel.

Proposition Eight has crowded out the Gospel. Perhaps it’s not evil in and of itself, though some may make that case, but it certainly has taken evangelical Christians, people who are defined by the Gospel and its life-changing power, away from their primary mission to be witnesses who preach the Gospel.

The survival of Proposition Eight to fight another day means that more money and time will be squandered on something that really has nothing to do with preaching the Good News that Jesus offers salvation and redemption through his death and resurrection. The Gospel cannot be found in the fight for this law, no matter what we make of it. And as much as it inhibits our ability to fulfill the mission Jesus gave us, we must avoid such peripheral matters.

Let us resolve to know nothing other than Christ crucified and the power of his Resurrection.

I have been weighing matters of calling, passion, and ambition. I’m thinking of passion in the sense of what I love to do, what gives me life, and perhaps even what I’ve been made to do.

On the other hand, there is ambition. I’ve been seeing ambition as the virus that infects an otherwise good passion or calling. Ambition twists passion and calling into a vehicle to accomplish larger goals that may run these beautiful things into the ground.

We could take a writer for example—you know, just off the top of my head—who wants to write because he’s passionate about it, and even feels that writing is his calling. However, ambition could step in and wreck it all. Ambition could drive this writer to aim to become the greatest writer in his field, negating any enjoyment of his accomplishments and turning his passion into a machine that must only accomplish the goals dictated by ambition.

Ambition kills a passion in the end, even if it promises to bring fulfillment and success.

This is all stuff I’m processing right now. It’s not quite crystallized in my mind. However, does any of this ring true?

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

There is something beautiful and honorable about those who put their own lives in the path of danger for the sake of others. I have a good friend who works the tough hours as a police officer, and I can’t express how grateful I am to have someone with so level a head and desire to serve out on the streets.

I also know several former soldiers, veterans of the Second Iraq War. Some have moved on with their lives without the war impacting them too terribly, while others suffer severe headaches, tumors, and fatigue—the effects of the enriched uranium in our bombs also causing severe cancer and birth defects among the civilians in the war zones of Iraq and beyond.

Wherever these veterans are today, I am grateful that they put their own lives on hold, left family and friends, and traveled to distant lands. I believe they joined the American army with the best of intentions, hoping to hold up the ideals of liberty and justice. We can debate how our soldiers have been used by their superiors, the motives of our government, and the exceptions to these exemplary young people, but on the whole, I only know of honorable, dedicated people in our military.

There are always exceptions—those who join for the power and authority or simple financial reasons—though on the whole our veterans are worthy of being remembered and honored. In addition, many who have fought through the hell of war have come back as the strongest advocates for peace and diplomacy.

While it is good to honor these good people, Christians have a gray area to navigate. It is common for Christians to apply Jesus’ words from John 15:13 to the military context: giving one’s life for another. However, such a use of this passage makes a terrible blunder, mixing up one kind of sacrifice for another. This doesn’t negate the good that our soldiers do. It’s more a matter of apples and oranges.

Jesus laid down his life in a non-violent manner before the Roman and Jewish leaders, dying for the sake of all humanity—even those who murdered him. His death was a rejection of the empire’s path to establishing a Kingdom, choosing instead to inaugurate God’s Kingdom rule by laying down his own life, setting rule through power and domination aside, and demonstrating his love through his own death.

Jesus sacrificed himself for the sake of his enemies and friends. He never threatened anyone with physical harm. He rejected the kingdoms of this world in favor of God’s ground up, mustard-seed-style, yeast-through-dough Kingdom.

Though we hope America’s soldiers are only deployed for the cause of freedom and justice, we must keep in mind that our soldiers are at the disposal of the American government, which is not to be confused with God’s Kingdom. Soldiers are trained to kill their enemies, and as such they sacrifice themselves for their friends only, not for the sake of the enemy.

As General Patton once said, “No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.”

And so we should certainly honor selflessness and courage. We should remember those who laid their own lives on the line for the sake of their friends.

However, we should not quote Jesus in the context of Memorial Day. Jesus chose a path of non-violence. We can debate whether such a path is feasible for a nation state today, but we should not confuse a non-violent path with a path that clearly puts violence on the table.

In addition, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, and he demonstrated his incredible love by not only dying for his friends, but also his enemies—offering them a chance to be reconciled to God. It should not surprise us that Jesus has set the bar for love incredibly high. We should also not be surprised that the love of Jesus is something quite different from the love of a soldier for friend or country. There are no doubt some similarities and points of contact, but we are dealing with two very different things.

As we honor the dedication of our men and women in uniform, may we spend even more time pondering and honoring the height, length, breadth, and depth of God’s love for everyone.

One day I was all set to mow the lawn first thing in the morning. I had the day mapped out: mow the lawn, shower, pick up food at the co-op, and then do some writing and laundry.

With work clothes on and boots laced up, I stuck my hand out to check on the temperature. My hand came in wet. The heavens had opened up, and my day was thrown off course.

It’s funny, I felt a bit aimless, wandering around the house after that. What should I do now? I didn’t want to shower before mowing, the store wouldn’t open until later, and I wasn’t in much of a mood to write.

I slipped into default mode and checked my e-mail. After puttering around on the computer, I realized that God had actually given me a gift.

I just wasn’t interested in taking it.

I had an opportunity for rest, for worship, and for a time of peace and quiet.

Sometimes we determine our value, worth, and success by our accomplishments. We don’t view rest and recreation as an accomplishment, as fulfilling a part of a goal. Our checklists take over, and we forget that setting our checklists aside is every bit as important as marking off the next task.

As a Christian, I worship and serve a God who values rest. It’s not just good business or healthy living—rest is built into the human spirit. We are made in the image of a God who rests, who walks in the garden in the cool of the evening, who reminds us that building bigger and better towers won’t bring us any closer to God or one another.

Sometimes God’s grace comes in the rain that disrupts our plans.

I’ve read about Paul boasting of weaknesses, but it has become increasingly clear to me that everything we count as a weakness or past failure is an opportunity for God to not only heal us, but for us to share that healing with others. We boast about our weaknesses because they remind us of our need for God and the power of God in our lives.

No matter how hard I try to forget it, God has a way of bringing up our insufficiencies, while overwhelming us with his love and sufficiency. I experienced this directly over the weekend.

While speaking at a church I mentioned some of my struggles with fear and anxiety. It kicks in at predictable moments, but on other occasions I become keyed up and nervous without necessarily realizing what has caused it.

To make a long story short, my family prayed for me, God’s Spirit filled the room and all of us, and I sensed that God’s Kingdom was advancing into that area of my life, breaking the power of fear. The verse, “God has not given us a spirit of fear (or timidity)” came to mind, a constant reminder of God’s power and the simple fact that he does not want us to live in fear. He gives us a Spirit of confidence, a Spirit that makes us God’s sons and daughters.

And so after the service someone mentioned having similar struggles with fear and anxiety. I know the feelings all too well: the tension in the chest and the shortness of breath. I felt deeply burdened to pray, so Julie, myself, and a few others prayed for this person. Once again, God’s Spirit showed up powerfully.

In reality, I had nothing much to offer this person. However, since God’s Spirit brought healing into my life, I have a gift I can freely share with others. As I celebrate my weakness and inability to overcome anxiety and fear on my own, I can celebrate the power of God and freely pass it on to others.