They Found WHAT at the Legislature?

The news took me by surprise on Tuesday morning.  Two people had been arrested on terrorism charges after 3 Boston Style bombs were planted on the grounds of the Legislature early Monday morning.  Bombs?  Victoria?  OUR Legislature?  These are things that happen in other parts of the world, not downtown Victoria at the place where I work and where I was the night before with thousands of other people celebrating Canada's birthday.

A big hats off to the many branches of law enforcement agencies that worked together to ensure that the threat was 'defused' (pun intended) so that no harm was done.  That said, just to think that there were people (fellow Canadians at that....) who sought to do great harm to the people of my city on the grounds of the buildings where I serve is a bit unsettling to say the least.  I appreciated the response of the Premier yesterday morning who said it this way. 

“We cannot let this change us, We cannot be ruled by fear.”  Premier Christy Clark is right, we cannot be ruled by fear.  We must be ruled by Someone greater who sets us free from fear and allows us to live in freedom and peace.  (There's some great sermon material there, but I'll leave that for another time!)

The best antidote for fear is faith!  As the only Christian ministry actively engaged at the BC Legislature, we felt it was appropriate to respond in faith to what had just occurred.  We wanted to be proactive, responsible, respectful and wise.  Today, 15 people walked the grounds of the Legislature, mixed in among the tourists and spent their time asking God to protect the buildings and the people who work in them.  The buildings are just stone, but they are a symbol of our freedom and way of life.  The people who work in them, regardless of what their role, are just like you and me.  They have families, lives, hopes, dreams, goals and ambitions.  We prayed for their protection and safety.  As I walked and 'floated' from group to group, I found these words in Ps 91:4,5 that became my primary prayer focus.  Pray it along with me today!

He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.