Chaos
Driving to work was a delight. The time passed quickly as the anticipation for the day ahead played through his head. Nearing his destination, he waited at the light for his turn. Traffic moved freely around as he waited patiently for his turn light. Checking to make certain all the other traffic had stopped, he began his turn. The vehicle waiting behind him also eased into the intersection.
A blur of color and motion caught his eye. He looked to the side as an oncoming car ran their red light and slammed into him, spinning him around. As he spun, the vehicle behind him also slammed into him--spinning him again.
All motion stopped. The air was filled with a dust cloud from the deployed air bags. He opened his door a little--it wouldn't open very far--and exited the crumpled car. The driver of the car behind him, couldn't get out his door and had to crawl out the passenger's side. They both went to check on the driver of the final car--calling the police for help as they got to her.
Other drivers stopped to help. Police, the fire department, an ambulance all arrived and a flurry of activity surrounded them. Life suddenly turned to chaos.
She was happy--a job she loved that fulfilled her, a relationship that lead to marriage, a sense of satisfaction and anticipation of the future. Then came the first attack. Her spouse hurt her, tried to control her, and tortured her. She began to doubt her sanity . . . her work suffered . . . she was battered and abused.
As she desperately tried to make sense of what was happening around her, everything seemed to spiral out of control. Taking a break to breathe, to reflect, to plan everything seemed to fall apart around her. Her world turned to chaos.
The world seemed to glow around them. A new child was born. A healthy, whole baby brightened their lives, hopes, and dreams. Joy and celebration took place as he entered the relationship of his new family.
A sibling came home from school with a bit of a cold. The weeks old baby caught the virus. What his sibling could fight, he could not. Within days he was on machine after machine to fight the virus for him. His family sought the best medical help. Their time became focused around medication schedules, doctors and nurses caring for him, and medical technology fighting to sustain his body and fight for him when he had no strength to fight the virus. Their lives became chaos.
We all experience moments when everything is just right . . . and when it all then falls apart. Circumstances, unseen dangers, threats enter and skew our previously balanced world. Life seems to fall around our ears and swirl out of control. The winds of chaos buffet us and we feel that we have no anchor . . . no place to rest.
These are the times when we reach out to others we know, love, and trust. Sometimes they can help. Other times, they cannot. The chaos that rages around us can only be calmed by faith and the assurance that we are never alone--God is with us.
As fellow travelers in this life, we can offer a helping hand. We can seek wisdom . . . compassion from others. However, ultimately God is our refuge. God's strength and wisdom helps us to bend under the chaos and not break; to learn; to endure; to continue on.
Compassionate, loving One, the chaos around us has us scared and afraid. The storm rages around us. Help us not to despair but rather to cling to you as we seek wisdom and answers. Be present with us as we ride out the storm and refuse to allow the chaos to win. So be it. Amen.
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