Safe and secure?

Being in a military community for all of these years, I think I've gotten a false sense of security. I've never had to deal with much crime, or fear of crime. With ID checks to get onto the military base, we falsely think we are immune to the impulses of criminals. That's stuff that happens "off-base," right?  Or what about those of us living in small communities, or primarily "mormon" locations? I have family on the mainland that rarely locks their doors.

Almost a year ago, we heard tales of some that may have been gaining access to our base housing over the fences and trying to access homes. I believe they were caught, or it went away, but we didn't hear any more.

Then a few weeks ago, I found out a friend of mine had a stroller taken out of her garage by a woman passing by. In broad daylight. That seems kind of bold, but still could have been a small, one-time incident.

So, Friday morning, when I was awakened at 4:50am by a car alarm, I didn't think much of it. Someone accidentally set it off, I thought. But, when I left the house just before 9am, I found the street covered with police and neighbors out checking homes and cars. Someone had had a hey-day heading down our street, vandalizing and thieving along the way.

I think that we may be initially shocked when things happen that we didn't see coming, things we don't understand. Like criminal acts. I know that at the first report, I was shocked-- at first. And, then again, when I heard the second report. But, it went away and a sense of security returned.

But, when it really affected us, this last time, that's when it really hit me. That you never know how safe you are. Living on a military base, or in a Utah community, you never know.

So, how can we really feel safe? I figure we do what we can to protect ourselves and our family, and we put the rest in the Lord's hands. The faithful part of me believes that living right and making good choices will be all of the protection we should need. But, then that would mean that bad things don't happen to good people. Which I know is not true.

Then, the cynical part of me believes that the Lord helps those that help themselves. So, a certain level of our safety and security is up to us. So maybe that is the answer...it's a little, or a lot, of both. We take precautions. We teach our children safe practices. Then we pray for God to watch over us and keep us safe.

I love hearing my children in our evening prayer asking for their Heavenly Father to watch over them and those we love. I do it too. But I love that, for them, it IS that simple. Their faith is that pure. Another example of greatness by our pure and precious children...