Nowhere to Run
I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!” – Psalm 11:1 (NLT)
I understand the importance of choosing the right environment for the nurturing of children. Many communities and counties in America have been built around schools with records of high achievement.
I understand the exodus of those who decide to leave concentrated areas of urban crime, seeking greater safety and security in more rural areas.
And I certainly understand those who feel compelled to uproot themselves and their loved ones from their native countries and embark upon hazardous journeys in order to avoid the ravages of gangster cartels.
But I also understand those who resonate with the daunting resolve of Psalm 11: The protection and provisions of God are not restricted by zip codes or political boundaries.
There are still those able and willing to remain rooted where they are, to nurture and defend what is good amidst all the aggressions of crime and corruption in their immediate vicinity. There are still those who refuse to willingly cede territory in the fight for human dignity. Those who fully recognize the onslaughts of chaos yet will not leave their communities in crisis. Those who still see such value and potential in the people and places where they live, that they will not be moved.
So, to all the conscientious parents of students, and to all the teachers and administrators still fighting to improve failing schools from the inside;
to all the competent and compassionate medical personnel who work daily to provide the best possible care in hospitals and clinics located in poor and underserved areas;
and to all those who remain in places like Haiti and Ukraine to still fight the good fight of freedom and justice for all,
may the ubiquitous protection and peace and power of God be with you.
Prayer
For courage, for community, and for well-being we pray. Amen.
About the AuthorKenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.