Article June 22, 1974 Issue

"Be not afraid of their faces"

TERRANCE BRYAN EDWARDS

Many individuals are frightened at times by the active antagonism of others and so are seriously inhibited in experiencing joy and usefulness. For this reason, employees are sometimes afraid to work with aggressive bosses; some salesmen shy away from approaching difficult prospects; timid individuals refuse to mix with certain other more important or experienced people; and so on. It is a gloomy state of mind to be in. But it doesn't have to continue when one realizes that God gives man dominion. Man has nothing to fear.

It was in a diffident state of mind that a young man at times found himself. He tended to avoid meeting strangers. A few years ago, however, he was awarded a grant to study affairs in another country. It was an exciting prospect until, on his arrival in that country, he was shown his itinerary. He was overwhelmed to find that at great trouble to themselves his sponsors had arranged a three weeks' almost nonstop schedule of meeting people. They were nearly all much older and seemed more experienced than he. They belonged to a wide range of occupations (many of these a mystery to him). And all were at the top of their respective fields.

Suddenly he felt very small and unworthy of such notice. How could all those men be interested in him? Wouldn't he be wasting their time? Soon he could imagine dozens of angry, impatient faces reluctantly waiting to see him—and he wished he could flee.

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