Facing Our Fears

I really need to stop watching news programs while I do my morning devotions. Especially on mornings like this as our country watches and hears about an attack on the American embassy in Libya and the tragic death of four American lives, including the American Ambassador to Libya. The fact that this took place on the anniversary of the attack in New York City eleven years ago hasn't slipped my mind either.

I have to be honest with you (and with myself) and say I am upset, almost on the verge of anger. If not for my reading the lectionary passage for today from Numbers 21:4b-9 I may have been pushed over the edge into hatred. Fortunately, I read about the Hebrew people turning against God and how their lives were adversely affected and thought to myself, "at least it's not that bad."

In the story of the wilderness journey of the Hebrew people out of Egypt we read about their ungratefulness and how God's response was to send poisonous snakes into their midst to bite them. The people soon become "grateful" and ask Moses to ask God to make the snakes stop. God's reply to Moses; put a snake "idol" on your staff and every time the people get bitten make them look at it and they will be cured.

Really!?

Yes, God actually wanted the Hebrew people to face what they fear in order to be healed. Which brings me to today's thought. What is it we fear? I fear a world where people continue to be separated from God, one another, themselves, and creation. I fear earth's environment will be destroyed to a point that it will not be able to recover. I fear the people who have the gifts to bring stability and unity to our world are unwilling to step forward and do what is necessary.

So, I guess the morning news has become my "snake on a stick" and allows me to face my fears, then write a little something about it for a few people to read and maybe, just maybe, one of those people will be sparked enough to tell others how they feel. Until eventually we're all talking about, and living out God's love for us.

Maybe.