Mayberry

Sometimes it seems like we live in a place that is a bit removed from the normal pace of life. It's a place where we stand on our porch and chat with our neighbors. A place where people mow other's grass if it seems to be getting a little high. A place where the library has four sections: western, mystery, romance, and large print. A place where I feel felt safe.

Lately I have been burdened with a sense of fear, a quiet sort of fear that creeps up when its time to go to bed and I check the doors one extra time or when I've been home alone too long and the I jump when the door bell rings. I open it to find the terminator exterminator...sigh.

Last night just before we clicked off the nightly news, we heard a headline featuring our Mayberry. Normally the headlines surrounding this sleepy town include drug busts by our hard-working, ever-present law enforcement but this one hit a little closer to home:

Man attempts to assault 18-year-old woman while walking at 2 PM on Monday

The news awoke my dormant fear as I had a morning run planned. I shared my fear with Adam and his response was exactly what I expected, did not want to hear knew to be true.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed --Isaiah 41:10

In this world you WILL have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world--John 6:33

Last night as we prayed I was convicted for placing my hope in this world. I so treasure safety that I had let the fear of losing it control my heart instead of finding my security in Christ alone.

This morning, I awoke and ran as planned, with a few extra precautions including mapping out my run for Adam and staying in well-populated areas. As I ran, I prayed, not only that God would protect me physically, but that He would shield my heart from the "flaming arrows of the evil one."

As I was driving home from the library (the one with four sections) I heard a song that seemed to sum up well the journey that God has led me on these past few days

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

What a reminder that what Christ wants for us is not a life in Mayberry but holiness.