Suddenly, you find yourself in a very intense situation – this could be life or death. Your heart begins to raceas the adrenaline starts pumping. Thousands of thoughts are streaming through your head and you don’t know what to do. A cold sweat begins to break on your forehead and… this could be the end, there are no more empty tables at the Cougareat and you’re going to have to sit by someone you don’t know. Sound familiar? Okay, maybe it’s not that serious in your case, but everyone, to some degree, has anxiety or even fear in certain social settings.
How about this one:
You are walking to class and there aren’t many people around, just the one person that happens to be heading the opposite direction as you. They’re coming right towards you. Clearly there won’t be any kind of a collision, even if there was it wouldn’t be fatal. Yet you feel more tense the closer you get. Looking away you brace yourself for… who knows what… and… nothing. What a relief you were able to dodge any kind of interaction with them.
Or:
Same scenario, but you feel a little daring. You actually look at the person that is coming towards you – Quick look away!!! You just made eye contact!!!... Whew! That was a close one.
Why does this matter? It’s not like it’s the end of the world because we avoid people we don’t know.
True. But it does prevent unity. Overcoming social fears is just plain good for society for that reason and not overcoming them, therefore, hinders our progress as a whole.
Not just good for him, though. If it weren’t for Enoch’s social courage, becoming a “wild man,” then the people never would have been called Zion, and never would have been lifted up.
Is your inability to look a stranger in the eye and smile as you pass by keeping us from building Zion?
We are all brothers and sisters and, especially here at BYU, should be able to feel more comfortable around each other and instantly become friends, more or less, right?
You are walking to class and there aren’t many people around, just the one person that happens to be heading the opposite direction as you. They’re coming right towards you. Clearly there won’t be any kind of a collision, even if there was it wouldn’t be fatal. Yet you feel more tense the closer you get. Looking away you brace yourself for… who knows what… and… nothing. What a relief you were able to dodge any kind of interaction with them.
Or:
Same scenario, but you feel a little daring. You actually look at the person that is coming towards you – Quick look away!!! You just made eye contact!!!... Whew! That was a close one.
Why does this matter? It’s not like it’s the end of the world because we avoid people we don’t know.
True. But it does prevent unity. Overcoming social fears is just plain good for society for that reason and not overcoming them, therefore, hinders our progress as a whole.
For example, Enoch was a very successful prophet that achieved the unachievable. He helped a whole city be lifted up into heaven. How? “Because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness,” (Moses 7:18).
Being of one heart and one mind – having unity – is key to a society’s success. After all, Enoch’s city was the most successful society in history.
The unity of this people began with the setting aside of fear. When the Lord called Enoch, his response was I “am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech.” (Moses 6:31). Like us, he was unable to face people confidently. Well, later on, when speaking of Enoch the people said, “a wild man hath come among us,” (Moses 6:38). Enoch got over his fear, good for him.
Not just good for him, though. If it weren’t for Enoch’s social courage, becoming a “wild man,” then the people never would have been called Zion, and never would have been lifted up.
Is your inability to look a stranger in the eye and smile as you pass by keeping us from building Zion?
We are all brothers and sisters and, especially here at BYU, should be able to feel more comfortable around each other and instantly become friends, more or less, right?
