Summer should be a time of carefree fun ... a time of picnics and pools, families and friends. And, of course, this being an election year, also a time for expressing political views and sharing visions for the future. Sadly, this past weekend showed that our safety when gathering at public events is something we can no longer take for granted. Are we all now at risk simply by leaving our homes?
The truth, in fact, is that violent crime in the U.S. is actually on the decline. Has been for several years. So why do we feel so scared and vulnerable? Possibly because in this digital era, news travels so fast ... and bad news always grabs the biggest headlines. And also maybe because we fear what is out of our hands.
We can wear seatbelts, for example, but we cannot control the inattentive driver in the next lane. We don't let this stop us from dashing to the store to pick up a carton of milk. Yet the odds of being in a traffic accident are greater than being a victim of violent crime (which California sources estimate is one victim per 20,000 persons).
Experts say our anxiety and worry probably stem from our perception that "crime is out there, waiting to get us." Will we ever get anything done, or go anywhere, if we constantly feel this way?
It's hard to believe that everything is going to be okay when the world feels like it's falling apart. Beyond taking the usual safety precautions (Don't park in unlit areas! Lock your car!) it seems there's not much else we can do. And that's when God comes into the picture, asking—no, expecting—us to trust him to watch over us. Moreover, he asks—no, demands—that we go further and step in (and speak up) to promote justice and peacemaking. Those are things we can do. And when we can do something, anything, we cease feeling like victims. It takes courage to stay engaged in the real world. Now is the time to remember that God's unsurpassed love and faith in us make that happen.
—Cathy Betts Sapunor
