A Culture of Fear

           On July 16, just a month ago, we prayed the following verses from Isaiah 25: 1-4, 6-9 during Morning Prayer:

       On this mountain

       God will destroy the shroud that is cast over all people

       the sheet that is spread over the nations

      God will swallow up death forever.

      God will wipe away the tears from all faces,

      will take away the disgrace of the people from all the earth,

      for God has spoken.

           The day before, a man drove a large truck through crowds of people celebrating France’s Independence Day on the French Riviera, killing dozens and wounding many others.We keep having these incidents, and throughout our country too, bombings and shootings galore.It happens in schools, a church, a restaurant, and all kinds of places where people are gathered together. So what do we do? We lock all our doors, we go around scared of everyone. Is it safe to go grocery shopping in a store where people may carry concealed weapons?

           I prayed the psalm again, using “terrorism,”  “shooting” or “bombing” in place of shroud, “fear” in place of sheet.

           I grew up with little or no fear, even though WW II was raging across the ocean as my two uncles in the armed services defended us. In primary grades I walked almost a mile to school every day, crossing five side streets. At age eight my mother put me on the bus to go downtown for swimming lessons at the YMCA and uptown for piano lessons, then crossing a four lane highway with no traffic light to get home.  As a high school student, I got off the bus many a Saturday night after YCS dances to walk up a dark winding street with no lights. I heard rustling in the bushes and field, prayed to my guardian angel and was assured it was only a bunny or squirrel nestling in for the night. As an adventurous adult, I was not afraid to walk the streets or to use public transportation in London, Vienna, Cuernavaca or Washington, DC. I was careful but not naïve.

           But now? Are we to think of every human being we meet as a potential thief, or killer?

Back to prayer:

        God will wipe away the tears from all faces,

        will take away the disgrace of the people from all the earth,

        for God has spoken.

           Yes Lord, You have spoken. Are we listening? With Your help, surely we can make a difference. Can we deal with anger, resentment, injustice, vengeance, the bullied child, and the bullies? Can we turn this energy into good for others? Can we turn the culture of fear into a culture of trust and mutual respect?          
                Sr. Mary Carol Hellmann, OSB