Everywhere you look someone is under attack. The list is endless; countries versus terror from without and without; environments from those who claim to protect as well as those well known for exploitation; the strong and the week from those who are trying to get an advantage for one reason or another. Even if you can get past the big stuff you find yourself overwhelmed. Parties in quiet suburbia mysteriously go out of control and children die in a hail of bullets. Strangers exact their toll by taking one life after another from a world family they haven’t even met. People eliminate others just because they believe hold beliefs in things that are different from their own.
People wonder why I don’t read the paper on the way to work. The reason is simple and direct. Evil is on display at every corner. The papers report what people are looking for and evil is there for the taking. I would rather focus on the people who made room for another or gave up their seat because someone looked tired. It rarely happens but it is a challenge to be on the alert to catch that one moment in months that does occur!
I make a lot of mistakes. I often hurt those that I hold precious and close to my heart. In the midst of it all I do find hope because I can measure some of what God has done on the inside. The measure is shown in Wisdom’s observation.
“Good people can’t stand the sight of deliberate evil; the wicked can’t stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.” (Proverbs 29.27)
I am encouraged because each day is a window of beginnings. There are many taking stands against evil! God’s kids in action even when they don’t know their Father is watching. Some don’t even know that they are part of the family but it doesn’t matter – God knows who they are.
The threats to your life and mine are more severe than any time in history. God’s compassion, mercy, and love are even stronger!
