Sense of It All

People are searching desperately for a system of belief that will make sense of the world around them.

Over the past few weeks alone, we have had news of a New Jersey father tossing his toddler off a bridge to her death [1]; two children, 6 y.o. and 7 y.o., stabbed in an elevator, at the New York housing project where they lived [2]; two 12 y.o. Wisconsin girls knifing a friend 19 times [3]; sex by a 30 y.o. Pennsylvania teacher with her 14 y.o. special education student [4]; and the murderous rampage of a California narcissist dissatisfied with his social life [5].

Little wonder that people are struggling to make sense of things. It seems as if the entire world has gone mad. The confusion is heightened by predictions from various sources – including that renowned spiritual mecca, Hollywood – of Armageddon and the end of days.

For many, the feeling of helplessness in the face of unseen forces has expressed itself as a belief in aliens, monsters, mutants, vampires, werewolves, zombies, and ghosts.

The interest in magic (black and white), divination (by astrology, the Tarot, numerology, and other methods), ESP, and communication with the dead is an attempt to wrest some control from an unfeeling universe.

Even Christians – since we are only human – can get caught up in the discouragement and foreboding prevalent today. Yet Christianity is, in fact, the belief system that makes sense of it all.

“Be still and know that I am God…” (Ps. 46: 10).

God Almighty, You are our shelter and our strength, a very present help in troubled times such as these. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is our refuge. The world may be in turmoil, but You will be exalted among the nations.

Still the storm within our hearts, Father. Help us to know that You are God, that nothing and no one can prevail against You. Whatever course the world may choose to take, help us to do the work for which You placed us here.

We ask this in Jesus’ Holy Name.

Amen
—
[1] News 4 New York, “New Jersey Father Sentenced to Life in Prison for Tossing 2-Year-Old Daughter Off Bridge” by Wayne Parry, 5/28/14, http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Father-Throw-Daughter-Toddler-2-Year-Old-Girl-Off-Bridge-New-Jersey-Sentence-260900491.html.

[2] New York Daily News, “Cops: Two Children Stabbed in East New York, One Fatally, as Butcher Flees” by Ryan Sit, Chelsia Rose Marcius, Mark Morales, and Rocco Parascandola, 6/1/14, http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/kids-stabbed-east-ny-article-1.1813398.

[3] CNN, “Police: Wisconsin Girl, 12, Stabbed 19 Times; Friends Arrested” by Jason Hanna and Dana Ford, 6/2/14, http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/justice/wisconsin-girl-stabbed/.

[4] NBC 10 News, “Special Education Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Her Student” by David Chang and Dan Stamm, 6/5/14, http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Female-Special-Ed-Teacher-Accused-of-Sexually-Assaulting-Student-261877971.html?partner=xfinity1.

[5] News 4 Southern California, “’Mass Murder’ Rampage Near UC Santa Barbara” by Christina Cocca and Samia Khan, 5/25/14, http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/shooting-isla-vista-uc-santa-barbara-260505021.html.

READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse  http://www.avoicereclaimed.com