One of the biggest tropes in horror films, is when the gang decides to split up. Almost every classic b-slasher movie has a moment where the teenagers decide it’s a better idea to split up and go get help, and we as the viewers want to scream at the screen because we know this is the worst idea! I always think of the Friday the 13th series, because they all pretty much follow the same formula. Jason shows up and then everyone else runs in the opposite direction, just not together. It becomes a free for all and doesn’t end well for pretty much anyone, until the end when the final people figure out a way to stop the mad man. We watch this and get so frustrated, asking ourselves, why wouldn’t they all just work together to stop this killer? The truth is though, that we ourselves do this same thing.
It seems to happen when we struggle or face some big fears in our lives, we run away from what can in reality, save our lives. Why do we choose this? I think we can all understand that we need people in our lives, on our side and on the same team, but when the struggles come, we choose to run away. Maybe it’s because we don’t want to appear weak, that we can handle anything that comes our way. I’ve been in work environments where asking for help seemed like a mark against your ability. We may be dealing with mental stress, and when it’s brought up, we are told to just be happy. These experiences in life cause us to run away, but I’m here to tell you, we need each other.
Remain in the source.
One of my biggest challenges, is dealing with anxiety. My anxiety causes me to take on everything because I feel like I can’t fail, that I have to be perfect in everything. I feel like I don’t need help, because help is a sign of weakness. This is a lie. This is a lie that I have been told through my life experience, and what I have found is that the truth is, I need to remain in the source.
In John 15, Jesus speaks about the example of being connected to the vine. If you are a branch connected to a vine, you are able to bear fruit. Apart, nothing will happen. You need to remain to the source. For me, and for you, when the struggles and fears come, this means instead of pretending like you can do it all, we need to turn back to the source of life. This means filling your mind with scripture and coming to God in your weakness; in your weakness God makes you strong.
It’s contrary to everything you have been told, and that’s why it is such a beautiful picture of God’s grace.
Remain in love for others.
The second half of this section in John 15 then turns responsibility to the disciples. Jesus tells them that when they are connected to the source, they experience God’s deep love, and they are to show that same love to everyone. This is true in our lives. God deeply loves us, and that means we are to deeply love others.
In the midst of my fear and struggles, knowing that I have someone on my side changes my outlook. This has been a scary season of unknowns, and having dear Danielle with me in the weeds gives me strength when I feel powerless. We need community, we need people who will go into the weeds of life with us and empower us. We need to be willing to go into the weeds for others in our life as well.
We are called to be in community, this means coming together in times of great fear in order to do a great good.
B-horror flicks often go the same route, but real life doesn’t have to be this way. In the movies the teenagers run in opposite directions and get picked off, one by one. Don’t let this be true of your life or the lives of others. Choose to run to the source of life in the midst of your fear, and choose to love others who may be battling fear in their lives. Jesus has called us into so much more than the lies of our fear tell us. You are beautifully and wonderfully made, God has a plan for your life.
Remain in the source of life and remain in a lifestyle of deep love.
-Joshua Thomas
About the Author: Joshua Thomas is a writer by day and superhero by night. When he’s not writing and crimefighting, you can find him reading a good book, sipping warm tea, taking pictures, or dreaming. The young writer doesn’t fully know what he’s doing, but is enjoying the journey of it all. You can follow his hipster photos and Jack Kerouac musings on Instagram @joshua_thomas__
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