We live in a scary world. Had you noticed?
Lately Hurricane Gustav and it's moves, along with all the "what ifs," dominate the news. Hurricane Hanna lurks nearby, headed toward the Florida coastline. Yet it's early in the official hurricane season.
It's fire season in the West. When we have hot, dry winds with low humidity residents of wooded foothills and mountains areas feel a sense of foreboding.
In California, of course, the earth sometimes shakes, and no "season" on earthquakes. Once in awhile there's an earthquake which springs out of a previously undiscovered fault. This tends to cause a touch of dis-ease.
People who live in tornado country find living with this risk unimaginable. People who live in earthquake country find the idea of tornadoes terrifying.
Wherever we live, even in "nice" suburbs and mostly-peaceful small towns, there are the day after day reports of violence. Some analysts say most of live with ongoing low-level uneasiness. It's not something we can put our finger on, just the sense of nebulous danger "out there" somewhere.
How do we stay calm? How do we keep children from living in fear? After all, kids lack experience to put things into perspective. Like sponges, they absorb what they see and hear, then internalize it. If we're fearful, they will be, too.
We can help ourselves--and the kids in our lives--avoid anxiety by refocusing our attention. When we feel overwhelmed it helps to pull off the road to fear. The logical place to start is by shutting out the chatter and clearing our minds so we can reset our inner guidance systems. What works for me is to go back and check the Owner's Manual.
There I find key points to remember, like this one:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
The LORD almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
--Psalm 46:1-2, 7
I read that and breathe in reassurance. My tense shoulders drop a couple of inches. Try it, next time you're feeling uptight.
You and I can't know what tomorrow will bring. That's scary.
But we can know who holds tomorrow. That's peace.
May you have calm in the eye of whatever your personal storm!
Lenore
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