Dealing Effectively With a World of Terrorism and Tragedy

From Sept. 11, 2001, until now and unfortunately on into the foreseeable future, we have lived and are living in a different world—too often blighted by the specter of fear. How does our Creator advise us to respond to the fears within us all?

by John Ross Schroeder

Remember the inspiring testimony of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, direct from space: "The world looks marvelous up here, so peaceful, so wonderful..." Indeed his words are very similar to how the Genesis account describes God's magnificent creation.

Col. Ramon went on to say: "The atmosphere is so thin and fragile, and I think everybody, all of us...have to keep it clean and good. It saves our life and gives us life" (Independent on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003).

This may be understood as a positive testimonial to our Creator—a badge of honor suitably due to His divine majesty. Everything He had made is simply described in Genesis as "very good." And like Adam and Eve were told to "dress and keep" the Garden of Eden, mankind was also divinely commanded to populate and rule the earth, suitably subduing it in a right manner.

A sobering reality check

How different is the fresh perspective of this brave and courageous Israeli astronaut (tragically lost only a few minutes from scheduled touchdown) from many standing on the earth. In New York City, "a stone's throw from Wall Street and the site of the World Trade Center, most models of gas masks have sold out; the only nuclear, chemical and biological suits left are extra-large. Fifteen minutes after closing time, the queue at the security equipment store's checkout is still 10 people deep" (The Financial Times, Feb. 15, 2003).

Some who walk on solid ground, freely breathe the earth's precious air and bask in the rays of the sun, must now contemplate a future day when we may be forced to don space suit-like gear (perhaps somewhat like that of astronauts) just in order to survive deadly chemical and biological attacks—poisonous gases deliberately injected into the atmosphere by murderous terrorists.

In spite of the Columbia tragedy, while they yet lived those seven astronauts had temporarily escaped the stark reality of the earth's present condition. You need only to turn on your TV to fully understand the damage human beings can inflict first on themselves and then on their precious habitation, our own planet called earth.

Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0303/terrorismtragedy.htm

Related Information on UCG Sites:

Table of Contents that includes "Dealing Effectively With a World of Terrorism and Tragedy"
Other Articles by John Ross Schroeder

Terrorism, answer to:

Millennium:

Search Our Site
Key Subjects Index
General Topics Index
Biblical References Index
Good News Magazine Index
Booklets and All Literature Index
Home Page of this site