Once again the news is filled with sadness, loss, and terror. It is easy during times like this to become not just filled with sadness for the victims but fear for our own safety.
Some people are so filled with fear that they change their life because of it – avoiding traveling, going to large group events, going out in the evening, etc. The greatest damage that terrorist do is not just the acts of violence they commit but the fear that is instilled in those who let it.
One meaning of the word terrorist is one who terrorizes or creates fear in others. The terrorists of this world win when they cause such fear in us that we lose hope.
Instead of reacting with fear over the news, try praying for the victims and the perpetrators in any act of terror. Remember that in any situation of horror, there are always stories of acts of kindness and compassion. Darkness can never win unless we let it.
The sun comes up and light overcomes the dark. We walk into a dark room and turn on a light, and the light illuminates what was enshrouded in the dark. We may not be able to physically stop these terrible events from happening but we can maintain a consciousness in which fear and hatred are overcome by love, kindness, and compassion.
Quote of the Week
“We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
