The moment I stepped inside our third-floor walk-up apartment, I knew something was wrong. My heart raced as I scanned our dining room and noticed my work laptop was missing. Someone had also stolen two personal laptops and a digital camera—all because we forgot to shut the only window granting access to our apartment.
We lived in a
rougher Chicago neighborhood because we couldn’t afford the rent prices in the
nicer area a few blocks north. One block made a big difference in safety.
My husband
was leaving for a one-month work trip later that afternoon. The closest family
was an eight-hour drive away. I would be solo with two little ones after a
break-in the police refused to come investigate—even though the thief left his
drawstring bag with a package of partially eaten chips on our doorstep.
Fear consumed my mind. Why did God plant us here?
The Safety Obsession
Parents needed to buy the safest car seat. Homes needed security cameras to deter a robbery. Neighborhoods were deemed acceptable based upon their website “report card.” Children must be positioned for academic and athletic achievement to secure college scholarships. Money must be saved for retirement.
While many of these endeavors are good and sensible, we often cross a line from living wisely to seeking to control our lives. We can quickly slide from using wisdom to guide our steps to placing our hope in safeguards that will not guarantee the type of protection we seek.
Read the full article on Revive Our Hearts.