love life

I noticed a question that was posed on facebook not too long ago. It was "Is it better to be feared or loved?"

To my surprise a few said it is better to be feared. 

Those that said it was better to be feared attributed their perspective to survival, to experience. Life has taught them to survive. That the world we live in is a dog eat dog world. That its the survival of the fittest, that love has no place....that love is weakness. Tragically, these people's belief in love has died and as a result they have turned to being feared as a way of life, a way of protecting themselves. Fear has become their shield, their wall of Jericho and certainly the person inside never comes out, nor does anyone come in. 

On the outside I imagine these people look strong and hard and confident, but I believe that they are truly broken on the inside with deep wounds and scars marring their heart. Desperate to try anything but love they have picked up fear thinking if they can keep people at arm's length, maybe they won't get hurt like that again. The truth is that fear will leave you dry, and lonely, and hopeless. 

What is more powerful than love? I believe that  love is the strongest shield a person could have and the greatest risk a person could take. Love is choosing to live your life rather than operate in survival mode. Love is the sticking power in relationships. I cannot comprehend the choice to be feared over love. How can one doubt love when it is seen in action everyday? Mothers and fathers sacrificing for their children, best friends playing scrabble on the couch, brothers riding bikes together, tears cried for a friend in need, a door held open for a stranger, that is love. 

I am loved, more than i deserve. And so I love in return to the best of my ability. 

I choose love over fear. 

I choose life over survival. 

I choose taking a risk over coping out.

My choice to love has always been the harder road. But the rewards have always been worth it in the end.