Taking Pause

What is going on in this world?  The Boston Marathon, Texas, Watertown?  Sandy Hook, Sandy.  North Korea, the Middle East. Such unrest, volatility, and anxiety.  Mass transit lock downs, political mud-slinging.  No background checks for gun purchases?  I tend to be the type of person that likes to see the good in people, situations, life.  One of my common phrases I say is: "The good news is..."  I hear my six year old saying it as well, funny how we learn what our blind spots are through our children.

I do not have any answers as to why the last few years in the US seem to be different than the years before.  The children being killed are what make it so real.  I am a prayerful woman, and I am doing a lot of that today.  I can imagine how paralyzed in fear the residents around Boston are right now.  We experienced something similar in 2002 with the DC sniper rampage.  Crouching at the gas pumps for fear of some random attack.

I watched Argo again last night, a film I have to put in the all time top 10.  And it amazes me how much goes on covertly that the average citizen never hears about, or when we do we are so far removed from it, the terror cannot sink in.  I have remained fairly poli-neutral these last few years.  I am an avid Facebook fan, but I rarely respond to political posts.   Is there a point where common sense (whatever that is for people) should reign?  I am a proud and grateful American.  I have a thriving small business, healthy children, a loving husband, amazing friends, and live in a wonderful neighborhood where the flowers bloom and the children laugh and play.  I have been insulated, and spoiled.  But there are many dangerous nations that simply hate America.   Mental health issues continue to get ignored.  I feel helpless.  It is all so clearly bigger than I am, and as a mom all I can think about is keeping my kids safe.  And there is so much out of our control.  I do not want to live in fear and panic.

It's time to take a pause and get very clear on what is important in life.  Who is important, and what your faith system is or is not.  I plan to tell my friends and family how much they mean to me.  I thank God for provision.  I pray.