ALBUQUERQUE (BP)–On Sept. 11, 2001, we were all reminded in a horrifying way of our nation’s vulnerability to attacks by evil people and of the reality that any of us anywhere can be victims of terrorism. In the days and weeks following 9/11, the stress from that new awareness, added to the normal, everyday stresses of life, sent many Americans into an emotional tailspin.
Many of those people have recovered, at least somewhat. But the new reality of war may be all it takes to send them back into a panic-filled state.
The words “Code Orange” remind us all that any of us could be the next victim of this war, which could, God forbid, spread well beyond the handful of nations currently involved.
We must all remember, however, during these days that the greatest threat is to those personally involved in the war, our military personnel and the people who live where the battle is being fought. The uncertainty our soldiers face also is felt intensely by their loved ones here at home, to whom we must reach out with true love and compassion.
We have 24-hour-a-day access to information about the conflict. This will certainly take an emotional toll in homes, churches and workplaces. Staying tuned for all the latest developments via television, radio and the Internet will, no doubt, negatively impact spending quality time with our families, getting things done around the house, participating in church activities and being productive at work. Many people may start a new habit of staying up past their normal bedtime so they can catch the latest update. Who knows, another late-night news program may be born, like ABC’s “Nightline” was during the Iran hostage crisis in the late ’70s. In short, all of us may end up suffering, in varying degrees, from this current conflict … and along with us the cause of Christ.
Understanding this possibility/probability is vital in taking several necessary steps to be all God wants you to be during this time of war:
— First, and most important, don’t neglect spending focused and uninterrupted time in the Lord’s presence every day. He is the only one who can give you all the strength and guidance you will need during these days. TRUST him to give you his supernatural strength and LISTEN to him when he speaks to you about the priorities he wants you to focus on each day — at home, church, work and school, and in your community, state, nation and world.
— OBEY him in what he directs you to do whenever and wherever he directs you to do it.
— BE ALERT to the enormous temptation to overindulge in the intake of information about the current conflict. Limit your exposure to an amount of time you can afford without neglecting any of those things God wants you to do.
— But do STAY AWARE of what’s going on in the war, particularly as it relates to opportunities God may give you to be an instrument of his love to someone who is personally touched in some way by this present darkness.
— And PRAY earnestly for our president and all of our leaders, that God will give them a clear awareness of his will during these days.
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Loudat is editor of the Baptist New Mexican newsjournal.
