In each of the four gospels we read accounts of Jesus speaking into circumstances where others remain silent. He always teaches from fresh perspectives, offering hope.As we look at the Pastoral Principle of Fear, referring to the woman caught in adultery, I wonder how quick are we to pick up stones? To judge? To point out the splinter in someone else’s eye without realising or acknowledging the log in our own eye? And all because of our own deeply rooted prejudice, ignorance, or fear.We all know what it is to feel afraid and there are numerous people in this story who feel afraid – the scribes and Pharisees; all the Jews listening in; not least the woman caught in adultery. What are you afraid of? What situations, people, or cultural changes make you fearful and influence your views and beliefs? Fear of change, of difference, the unknown. What are the tough conversations we need to be having about things we have kept our head firmly in the sand about? That we are too afraid to even talk about?John, in his first letter (1 John 4:16 – 18), reminds us “God is love … There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…”.As we turn away from ourselves and look to God, trusting completely in his all conquering, all powerful love, allowing his perfect love to cast out fear, even over issues in which we disagree, allowing him to love through us, there is no need to fear any longer, just a completed circle of love.