The world
today has changed. I watch the news and
hear about school shootings, Benghazi, universal health care, and the current
economic crisis I wonder, “Has the world gone mad?” It saddens me at times to
think my children only know a post 9-1-1 world.
They don’t know the days where schools only held fire and tornado drills
and there were no lock-down drills. My kids don’t know a time when it was safe
to let and eight year old ride his bicycle four blocks to a friend’s
house. They only know the world where
three young girls are taken prisoner by insane sex offenders and locked in a
basement for years. They only know a
world where a class full of kindergarten children are murdered at the hand of a
young man who has himself 'gone mad". I
think of all of this and begin to lose hope.
I turn off
the news and take my boys on a walk to our town library. When I leave the house I feel turmoil and
stress on the inside. As we begin our walk,
that slowly begins to change. I see my
neighbor out working in her garden. Every
summer she passes along some fresh vegetables as we talk over our fence. In a
world gone mad, I have neighbors that still care. We pass the square and I hear the chime of
our newly restored clock tower. I see
the Rock-N-Roll soda shop alongside the hardware store. Even in a troubled economy the people of my
small town have supported the local businesses.
I begin to feel a little bit of hope.
In the summer I see people gather together for ‘Tunes at Noon’. We all live separate lives, but stop long
enough to enjoy a noon meal, and bit of entertainment with a neighbor on the town square. I notice a group of older gentlemen seated
outside the barbershop engaged in conversation, probably about old times; enjoying
one another’s company. I wonder “how many years they have been
friends” and “would they mind if I joined them?” Later in the week I attend Sunday services at
First Methodist Church. In a world gone
mad our church still holds a Bazzar each fall.
We have Sunday school picnics and sing songs like, “I’ll fly away”.
My thoughts
go to the annual Fourth of July Celebration.
It seems the whole town comes out
for the fair and parade then re-adjourns in the evening to watch the fireworks
at the city park. I remember looking
forward to these festivities as a child and now find it almost honoring to
share the experience with my own children.
In a world gone mad I live in a place that still says “One nation under
God” during the pledge. My boys attend
the same schools that I went to when I was their age. We have many of the same teachers and staff
members twenty five years later. When I
see those same teachers who greeted me as a child, welcome and care for
my own children I feel blessed and secure.
In a world gone mad, my children are safe and cared for. So when the cares of this world become
overwhelming then the Lord reminds me that He has led me into green pastures
and beside still waters. On the 12th
anniversary of 911 I needed a reminder.
Last Sunday at church we sang a hymn; the pastor promised we would have
it in our heads all week. Thank heaven
he was right! In a world gone mad. .
.remember this:
- Be not dismayed whate’er
betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you. - Refrain:
God will take care of you,
Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you. - Through days of toil when heart
doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
- All you may need He will
provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
- No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
