Pilgrimage Ponderings
Culture of Fear
I often receive emails from people who care about me warning me of the next possible way that harm might come to me, if I am not hyper-vigilant and on guard. Maybe someone is going to access my financial accounts and wipe them clean if I allow myself to be taken in by the latest cell phone scam. Maybe I am at risk for being abducted from a parking lot if I am not aware of the latest attempt of the bad folks to appear to be in need of help.
Usually I read the email I have received, out of respect for the person who sent it to me. But I find that I cannot bring myself to forward it on.
It seems that I am unwilling to participate in perpetuating a culture of fear.
I believe that we should all be cautious and use common sense. I am aware that there is a price to be paid for being too trusting. I also think that there is a price we pay for expecting bad things to happen at every turn. There is a price we pay for allowing fear, rather than mere caution, to be what rules us.
I believe that as people who seek to be faithful to Jesus Christ, we must make the choice to err on the side of hope and love, not fear, even if it means that we sometimes meet harm. To walk through life in fear of the next attack that might come is to see this world as evil, dangerous, and treacherous. And I think, all too often, we tend to get what we expect from life.
I believe that I am not going to be able to avoid the bad and difficult things in life, just because I am on guard against them. Walking in faith, for me, is trusting that Jesus walks with me into those difficult times, that the community of faith will sustain me, and that I have the opportunity to help mulitiply the good in the world by sharing it rather than hiding it away.
Stephen Taylor: Kathy, especially be careful of the people who read your blog. (10/28/09)
Interesting blog! Donc, beaucoup de nouvelles informations, et surtout - à court et clair! Merci! (01/05/10)