Antidotes to the Fear of Death

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7a CLASSIC POEM: Fear Not, Dear Friend Robert Louis Stevenson Fear not, dear friend, but freely live your days Though lesser lives should suffer. Such am I, A lesser life, that what is his of sky Gladly would give for you, and what of praise. Step, without trouble, down the sunlit ways. We that have touched your raiment, are made whole From all the selfish cankers of man’s soul, And we would see you happy, dear, or die. Therefore be brave, and therefore, dear, be free; Try all things resolutely, till the best, Out of all lesser betters, you shall find; And we, who have learned greatness from you, we, Your lovers, with a still, contented mind, See you well anchored in some port of rest. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Antidotes to Fear of Death Rebecca Elson SNIPPET: Sometimes as an antidote To fear of death, I eat the stars. … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]