“Whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25)
It was 6 a.m. The forecast called for another 90degree day. Thinking I would get ahead of the heat, I headed out into the back yard to refresh some flowers with water. It was early, no need to put on any undergarment – or so I thought. After watering flowers, I headed back toward our condo. When I opened the door to the sunroom, I was met with the shrieking siren from the security system. I had forgotten to disarm it! I grabbed the key fob, shut the system off and gave a sigh of relief. That was when I heard my cell phone ring. At 6 a.m.! Where was my phone anyway? Ah, I remembered I had left it in the bathroom. I picked it up and answered. On the other end was a representative from the security company. “Ma’am, we noticed your security system has gone off.” You should notice it from here! I thought. “Ma’am, I need your code to verify you are the owner.” So, I gave him the only code I knew. The four digit one we programed into the system when we needed to set it manually. He asked me two more times. “Ma’am, I need your code to verify you are the owner.” Again, both times I gave him the only one I knew. It was at that point that the young man hung up on me. How rude, I thought. (It wasn’t until later that I learned we had a different code word we were to give if this sort of thing happened.) Sighing once again with relief, I headed into the kitchen to start the day. It was at that point the doorbell rang. Oh no! I thought. I knew who was going to be on the other side of the door. I also knew if I didn’t answer it immediately, they may break the door down. I had no time to go put on any undergarment – or overgarment for that matter. So, I answered the door. It was one of our city’s finest, dressed in blue. “Ma’am, we received a call from the security company that your alarm went off.” I explained the situation. “Well ma’am, there was a problem with the security code given to the company.” By now I was wondering if during the night my name had been changed from Darlene to ma’am. I told the nice officer that I only knew one code, so I gave it to him. I think it was at that point that he figured that ma’am was no spring chicken and blonde, so he dropped the issue and left. I on the other hand, realized I had just given our four digit security code to two strangers whose credentials I had not verified – in case they wanted to come over when we weren’t home and help themselves. With that, I took my third sigh and headed back into the kitchen. It was then that it occurred to me that my hero, my protector had not come to my rescue. Reid has sleep apnea and uses a C PAP machine. Therefore, several years ago we moved his bedroom into the basement because sleeping with him was like lying next to Darth Vader with a nasty cold. In spite of the blaring security alarm, my call from the security company, and my visit from the police, Reid had managed to sleep through it all. When he awoke and I filled him in on my exciting morning, we laughed. I know if he would have heard the excitement over his Star Wars device, he would have come to my rescue. But I did tell him I think it is a good thing we have other means of security in our home.
We all need to feel secure. We want to feel safe. Especially in these trying times. That is why Americans spend over 20 billion dollars on security systems, not to mention guns and ammo each year. But how secure are we – really? Can we depend on all that protection? Our only true safety is found in Jesus Christ. When we seek him for our security, his peace fills our hearts and minds. We need not be afraid. We need not be anxious about life. Psalm 121:8 comforts us with the words, “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Jesus Christ is the only strong and safe One in whom we can rest securely. That truth is most comforting to a ma’am who is no longer a spring chicken and blonde.
Darlene