Why are we frightened?

Last Tues evening my little group of friends were discussing various topics...and I shared some questions with them that I've been asking myself recently. These are a group of people - some of whom I've known for years and yet still I hold back on 'being me'...why? So some of my questions to myself are..

...why do put people on pedestals?
...why do I let others intimidate me?
...why do I apologise for what I believe?
...why do hide behind a mask?
...why do I not trust people who will love me no matter what?
...why do I think my views are sometimes not worth putting across?

.....mmmm....still mulling these things over....

Be thou my Vision....

....I've always loved this hymn but especially the line...Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power...

and when I sing it...I always think of Glendalough in the South of Ireland ...close to place where I served on a mission team for year...ahhhh....wish I was there right now!

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;Naught be all else to me, save that Thou artThou my best Thought, by day or by night,Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won,May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.