Fear: The Anthrax
Scare
October 22, 2001
It’s invisible . . . easy to transport . . . and
deadly. Anthrax has only infected a handful of people but it’s
terrorized a nation. Almost half the people responding to a
Time/CNN poll said they feared someone in their family will be
exposed. Over 60% said they didn’t think their local officials
could prevent an attack if their town was targeted.
Closer to home--yesterday I was speaking at a
men’s retreat in the mountains above Los Angeles. At breakfast a
dad told me, “I called home and my wife said our son couldn’t
sleep last night. He’s five and afraid he’ll be poisoned.”
As men who want to protect our families and
friends—what are we to do? I’d like to suggest we jettison fear.
It’s as useless as a worn out shoe. And in the case of
Anthrax—it’s unnecessary.
Consider the fact that only a few people have been
infected. And whoever is sending out the virus is targeting
people with high visibility—politicians, television networks,
and publishers. It’s more likely you’ll be injured or killed in
an automobile accident than that you’ll be infected with
Anthrax. And even if you were infected, it’s highly probable the
virus will be treated and you’ll fully recover.
I suspect you’ve already considered all of that.
But on a deeper level, I don’t believe its Anthrax we fear. I
think it’s the realization that we’re vulnerable. It’s the
awareness that someone living in the shadows can hurt us or our
families. Before September 11th and the recent Anthrax scare, we
felt safe. Illness, death, and tragedy were things that happened
in predictable and often preventable way. But our view of
reality was an illusion . . . a mirage. We’ve always been
vulnerable to a sucker punch thrown by a burglar or drunk
driver.
Ultimately, we can only address our fears by
embracing the fact that life is frail and we will all die. So
will our wives and children. What’s happened since the towers
fell is that we think about danger and death all the time.
Instead of allowing such thoughts to frighten us we should let
them drive us to God. Solomon said the day of death is better
than the day of feasting (Ecclesiastes 7:2). I think he said
this because on the day of death we contemplate what’s important
in life. We consider the frailty of our own existence. And in
light of such thoughts we focus our energy. We determine that
since life uncertain and short, we should live in a way that
matters.
As Mighty Men we’ve committed ourselves to make
God, our families and sexual purity a priority. We believe that
God + Me = Victory. Since that’s the case we don’t need to fear
what “might” happen to us our families. Ultimately, we can’t
control such uncertainties. But we can know that God will take
care of us. What we must do is live in a way that pleases him.
And believe the words he uttered to Joshua when he said, “Do not
tremble or be dismayed, the Lord your God is with you wherever
you go” (Joshua 1:8). Regardless of the dangers that stalk
us—God is at our side. He alone is our “refuge and strength, an
ever present help in danger” (Psalm 46:1). I’d urge you to take
that verse from Joshua and commit it to memory this week. And if
you’ve got children, help them learn it too.
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