“As we watched the soldiers and the Rambo disappear I remember feeling preternaturally calm. This is what deep, deep fear does to you. It turns you into a state of unfeeling.”
"As we watched the soldiers and the Rambo disappear I remember feeling preternaturally calm. This is what deep, deep fear does to you. It turns you into a state of unfeeling." - Lloyd Jones
In this quote by Lloyd Jones, the speaker reflects on a moment of intense fear and observes how it can lead to a peculiar sense of calmness. The use of the phrase "preternaturally calm" suggests that the speaker's demeanor in the face of danger was almost otherworldly in its composure. This contrast between the expected reaction to fear and the actual response highlights the transformative power fear can have on an individual. The idea that fear can numb one's emotions to the point of feeling "unfeeling" reflects how extreme circumstances can alter one's perception and emotional response. It speaks to the complex ways in which fear can manifest and impact a person's psyche.
In this quote by Lloyd Jones, the idea of fear causing a state of numbness is explored. This concept of becoming unfeeling as a response to fear is a universal experience that transcends time and context. In modern times, this idea can be seen in individuals facing high-stress situations, such as soldiers in combat or individuals dealing with trauma. The numbing effect of fear is a survival mechanism that allows individuals to focus on the task at hand and protect themselves in dangerous or threatening situations.
In this quote from Lloyd Jones, he describes the numbing effect of deep fear. Reflect on the following questions to deepen your understanding:
“I do not know what you are supposed to do with memories likes these. It feels wrong to want to forget. Perhaps this is why we write these things down, so we can move on.”
“You cannot pretend to read a book. Your eyes will give you away. So will your breathing. A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe. The house can catch alight and a reader deep in a book will not look up until the wallpaper is in flames.”
“A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe. The house can catch alight and a reader deep in a book will not look up until the wallpaper is in flames.”
“Let’s all do it,” said Mr. Watts. “Close your eyes and silently recite your name.”The sound of my name took me to a place deep inside my head. I already knew that words could take you into a new world, but I didn’t know that on the strength of one word spoken for my ears only I would find myself in a room that no one else knew about. “Another thing,” Mr. Watts said. “No one in the history of your short lives has used the same voice as you with which to say your name. This is yours. Your special gift that no one can ever take from you.”
“I suppose it is possible to be all of these things. To sort of fall out of who you are into another, as well as to journey back to some essential sense of self. We only see what we see.He was whatever he needed to be, what we asked him to be. Perhaps there are lives like that—they pour into whatever space we have made ready for them to fill. ”
“Now listen. Faith is like oxygen. It keeps you afloat at all times. Sometimes you need it. Sometimes you don’t. but when you do need it you better be practiced at having faith, otherwise it won’t work. That’s why the missionaries built all the churches. Before we got those churches we weren’t practicing enough. That’s what prayers are for—practice, children. Practice.”