Use acts of kindness to fight fear of violence

Wednesday evening as we were wrapping up a small group meeting with the sharing of joys and concerns, one of us naturally asked that we pray for the victims and families of those injured in the shootings of that day – the congressional leaders in Alexandria, Va., and the UPS workers in San Francisco.

Monday was the one-year mark for the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, killing 49, which was followed last summer by the death of 84 in Nice, France.

Recently, we have mourned with the people of England. Sometimes we are left feeling like the world is coming apart with what seems to be an increasing number of random acts of violence. Yet research shows that over the last 50 years, global violence is generally declining. I try to remind myself of that when discouragement creeps in. I also bear in mind that we are so much more quickly and repeatedly made aware of such incidences of violence in the fast-cycle of internet-based news.

So as we concluded our prayers and locked the church, there was an amazing double rainbow in the sky, reminding us of God’s promise to Noah and his family. “I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you and every living creature.” This arc of color was a reminder to me that though this world seems so often wrong, God is still reliably good — all the time. I thought of a recent post on Facebook about Mister Rogers who reminded children, “When you see scary things in the news, look for the helpers.” There are so many generous and kind people in the world.

“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and every manner of thing shall be well.” So said one who lived through the death of many friends and family members in the 14^th century, a time of plague, which almost killed her. Julian of Norwich, a mystic theologian and spiritual counselor, living as an anchoress in the church in the second largest city of England at the time, was the first female to write a book in the English language.

Horatio Spafford had the same ability to see God’s providential care as Julian. Having lost a 2-year-old son and all his fortunes in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Spafford stayed behind while his wife and four daughters sailed ahead of him. All four daughters drowned at sea when the ship crashed and sank. Shortly afterward, he traveled to see his grieving wife and saw where the daughters had died and penned these words of resilient faith:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know: It is well, it is well, with my soul.

If God has secured your soul, be the rainbow for someone else in need of compassion. Be their peace like a river, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Be the person engaging in random acts of kindness, instead of building up fear over all the violence.

This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Use acts of kindness to fight fear of violence."