While we were living at sea, our parents worried about us being overseas, and as my dad put it, “taking their only grandson with us.” On the other hand, we heard in the news about violence in the United States. Our parents worried about us being unsafe abroad. We wondered about being safe when we came home. And then 9/11 happened while we were docked in D.C. across from the Pentagon. And nowhere seemed safe.
For us, safety comes from being prepared as best we can. It means reducing the risks where possible. It means knowing the dangers and weighing them against the good friends we meet, the amazing experiences we had, and the good done.
So now we are experiencing a new fear with new dangers and new challenges. As we listen to the advice of the experts, as we follow the directions of our governor, our bishop, the medical professionals, may the actions we take or refrain from taking balance the risks to ourselves and others. But may we also remember, “Our hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name”