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Be Not Afraid FearDorie, a close friend of my mother’s who feltcontinually tormented by this conflict, lived with it notonly at the end of her life, but for decades. Dorie livednext door to our family for many years, first as a part ofmy parents’ household and, after their deaths, as partof my own.The Dorie most people knew was a happy personwho found great joy in helping others. When a babywas born, she was the first to arrive with fruit, flowers,and an offer to clean the house. It was the same whenguests were expected. Nothing satisfied her as much asmaking sure the extra room was dusted and the bedfreshly made. She was endlessly cheerful, it seemed,and willing to do the most mundane chore. She neverexpected or wanted thanks.Underneath, however, Dorie was a nervous, anxiousperson. She had trouble sleeping at night and alwayswanted to have someone nearby. She worried overevery symptom of aging and dreaded the prospect ofphysical ailments or disabilities. By fifty she was alreadyworrying about dying. Thankfully, her determinationto be of use to other people and brighten their day kepther afloat – and prevented the fears that plagued herfrom driving her to the brink.Then cancer struck. For six years Dorie battled itbravely. Initially she underwent several rounds ofchemotherapy, each of which found her so apprehensive1