Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
Not long ago an event shook our quiet little town. It was an event that made national news and turned a happy community into a place of fear.
My husband and I were visiting our oldest son in a town 8 hours away, and for the first time, left our 18 and 20 year old boys at home by themselves. The next evening my cell phone didn’t stop ringing and texting; a motorcycle gang war had broken out and my property was involved in the melee.
My youngest son and his friend had just stepped into the front yard when the shooting started and they saw 2 people shot in front of them. They ran back into the house and saw a vehicle park in our driveway with 4 men inside, assault rifles exposed when they opened all the doors. They saw one man in our backyard. The police dispatcher told him to sit on the floor of a room with no windows, put a shotgun across his legs and if they come in . . . shoot! My son was terrified, I was terrified; we were both helpless.
After the shooting stopped the police arrived and the kids were told to lock up and leave the area. Helicopters and dozens of police vehicles were all through the area. Calls came from friends who knew where we lived and offered to take in the boys.
By the time we arrived home we were permitted to go into our house. Police cars and command posts remained for days. We called the police to come to the house when we found a bullet lodged in a lamp on our porch. The police took pictures and told us to be prepared . . . the war wasn’t over.
The feeling of physical helplessness flowed into my emotional and spiritual life. What if it happened again and I wasn’t home to protect my kids. What if no one was there and our animals were shot. What if . . .
Driving around town I noticed something that I’d never noticed before; guns. An elderly man was raking the rocks in his driveway with a gun on his hip. A white haired elderly woman stood in the grocery check-out line with a gun on her waist. Every motorcycle rider I saw had a gun strapped on. Someone came to our home to pick up a refrigerator, with a gun on his belt. We had a yard sale and those who came had guns strapped on. Fear had permeated Chino Valley.
I couldn’t sleep; thrashing all night. Every time I left the house I locked every door and was uneasy until I returned. My prayers seemed hollow. Our home had been on the market and we were told to take it off because no one would consider buying in our area for years. Helpless. Overwhelmed. Fearful.
As I prayed one evening I told God that my whole life seemed out of control. I asked what was wrong, what could I do. He spoke to me and quietly said that I’d let the war steal my peace.
I thought about all that had happened. 50 shell casings were found, but not one innocent person had been harmed. Not one animal in the neighboring homes had been harmed. 60 people had been arrested. Gang homes were ordered sold by the court. Gang awareness was clear in the community and people were prepared to fight back. God had His hand on Chino Valley and everything surrounding it.
God forgive me for forgetting that even when it seems like chaos all around, You are there. When nothing seems to make sense You reveal the big picture and Your perfect will. Thank You for not giving up on this worrier, but bringing perfect peace and rest.
Written 10-25-2010
Linda J. Humes 