On Fear

The Wakeaney crew all gathered in our living room this evening and watched the film version of The Green Lantern. Being the die-hard Marvel fan that I am, I had only the very basic understanding of the character...I knew that his power came from his ring, that there was a Green Lantern Corp. that protected the universe. I did not know that the green energy was the power of the Will, which was the opposite of Fear, the yellow energy.

Of course, this is not the first movie about the danger of letting fear get in the way of action, or lead you to wrong action.  As a child, I admit I was puzzled at how fear was lumped in with hate by Yoda as being an emotion that led to the dark side.  As an adult, I am all too familiar with how fear has led me and others to "do what we would not do, and not do what we would do".

Who can think of this subject without thinking of Frank Herbert's classic Dune, and the Litany Against Fear?

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.

Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear - From Frank Herbert's Dune Book Series

© 1965 and 1984 Frank Herbert

Again, we see the conquering of fear by an act of Will, though this time it is an internal struggle rather than the green energy power harnessed by the ring.  And, oh, when one speaks of rings and fantasy, we can't forget Tolkien's masterpiece.  The ring worn by the Green Lantern is essentially the opposite of the One Ring possessed by Frodo in The Lord of the Rings; that Ring sought to overcome and enslave the will of the wearer, to use the power of fear, amongst other emotions, to enslave and to bind one to the will of Sauron.

While the strong will of Frodo, and Hal Jordan, and Paul Maud'Dib all helped them in their quest to fight evil, I would argue that a stronger power than that led them on to victory.  This is not a power even mentioned in the movies or books, but it was there nonetheless.  It was the power of  Love that caused them to say No to the evil that threatened, the love for a woman, the love for a father, the love for a world, the love for the shire strengthened the Will of the heroes and powered them in a way which Fear could not.  Where love exists perfectly, fear cannot reside, and the will is unshackled by it and is free to act.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear is by suspicion, but he who fears is not grown up in love.  1 John 4:18