Reality.

What is safety??? I have been wrestling with this question this week as there have been some incidents on our street. Last night I attended a street meeting where a few of our neighbors spoke of suspicious people around, attempted robberies and the like. As I asked clarifying questions, the street leader finally said, "Chrissy, I am sorry but in this country we have come to a point where we must trust no one!" My heart sank, trust no one. . . I have been told and taught that only the paranoid survive but I also feel like I don't want to waste life worrying when "it won't add a minute to your life". But the reality is that bad, scary and horrible things happen to people everyday all over the world. . .
I have to say my first reaction to hearing all the stories last night was one of fear and flight " How quickly can we move from this place?" But then after a deep breath I was moved to ideas of action, to follow up with other neighbors, prayer walk, connect with other people who are at home during the day. All good things but that nagging fear, which I am so familiar with, didn't want to let go of my heart. I came to Trev with talk of burglar bars, and panic buttons and roaming security.
Repeating scripture about how God is our shelter and how He never leaves us, was helpful to calm me down but it also made me realize the reality is that God is still that same God whether we get robbed or worse. Trusting Jesus for our safety doesn't mean that bad things won't happen. Today, in the wake of reality, my heart longs for home and familiar and seeming safety, but more than that my heart aches for a place where people feel that they must trust no one. To me, that is an isolating and lonely reality to live in.