Overcoming Fear

As a child growing up in Laos, there were a lot of things that I feared. I was told that "if you point at the moon, your ears will be cut off"; if you whistle at night, "puj ntxoog" (a ghost-like animal) will follow you; or if you hear the cry of the "loobnyuas" (an owl-like creature) it means that someone's going to die soon. Also, one of the biggest fears was when someone died in a near village, and I could hear the echoing sound of the death-drum and the ringing pipes of the "qeej" (traditional instruments that are use to guide the spirit of the decease into Hades).

When I became a born again Christian, these fears carried over. I still feel the chill whenever I hear the sound of the death-drum and the "qeej". I believe that for many generations, the Hmong had allowed Satan to take our instruments and used them for his purpose. In doing so, he slowly instilled fears into us. When we hear the sound of a Hmong traditional instruments, we associate fear with it. We also vowed never to touch them again when we became Christian. Unknowingly, we handed over to Satan what make us who we are.

This musical and spiritual journey has been tremendous! It has taught me how to overcome these fears. I have come to accept the truth that "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). My hope is that you will find ways in your heart to accept the truth with no fear as I have.

October 29, 2006, I did my CD release concert, and I asked a showing of hands to see who fear pointing to the moon. I thought that only the older generation people would raise their hands, but I was wrong - there were more young people raising their hands. You see, fear is a very powerful instrument that Satan is using on us, and it has extended to our younger generation already.

It is time that we must take a stand. We must stand firm and know that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free, and we do not have to fear anymore: we can point to the moon and say look what God has made; we can pound the death-drum and let it sounds freedom; and we can listen to the “loobnyuas” sings and let it rings freedom. We are fearless in Christ Jesus.

Lee Her