With Bated Breath

As the world watches and waits to see how Americans will deal with the crisis of the past week and the challenges of the next two, I find myself unexpectedly calm and confident that the righteous among us will prevail. I’m not naïve. I know that evil exists and that there are too many people in America who awaken each day with no other purpose than to lie, cheat, steal, and harm. But I also know, personally, many more people who woke up this morning with plans to love, assist, support, encourage, and protect their family, friends and neighbors. Some of them will even spend time and effort and money helping strangers. I put my faith and hope in God and in those who follow His guidance, rather than the rantings of the devil’s followers.

 Yes, I’m concerned with what is happening and I watch at least an hour of the news that unfolds each day. I pray that in the coming weeks and months we will manage to rebuild order from chaos and peace from rebellion so that our children and their children may live in a world that is less troubling than it is today. I also pray for the wisdom to make good decisions each day so that I stay healthy and faithful and spend my time being useful to others. Excessive worry serves no purpose.

Philippians 4

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Comments

[Megan Millington]

"the righteous among us will prevail. " Always! Good wins. Love wins. Kindness wins. Virtue wins.

Democracy wins.

And by wins I mean prevails. Not to sound too trite, but we should all more readily appreciate the blessings we have after a trial. Granted, I say this several weeks removed from the insurrection and less than a week after the inauguration.

I feel joy, I feel peace, I find myself and my family no longer under threat. Maybe this means that the nastiness is confined again where I can't see it. I will take it! I will wholeheartedly take a break from having vitriol in my face every single day. Not confusing quiet with peaceful intent, but quiet for now is most appreciated.