As I try to go to sleep my mind wanders to the police reports on my Citizens app that I looked at just a short time ago.  Another robbery at gunpoint.  A carjacking.  Gunshots.  All within my neighborhood; less than five miles away.  Evil lurks in the dark. 

I moved to Memphis in August this year to begin once again to serve the Lord.  Having been in Montgomery Alabama for just about a year, Memphis was bringing me closer to family – seven hours versus twelve from some, three hours from others.  It was a good location to go many ways in visiting family and friends. 

It was also a door God opened that I had been waiting for… I had been waiting, watching and praying for a change as what I had come to Montgomery to do was completed.  I knew in my heart God had plans for me to help women in healing their heart, mind and soul – He told me this specifically back in 2014 through a message from a dear family member.  He would show me the way in His time, and I waited patiently and prayerfully.

I didn’t know where I would go but the need rose, and the Bishop approved it. I was invited to Memphis to provide for the need of Spiritual direction to women and to begin helping widows in discerning their role in the world and life of the church.    

Settling in these past weeks plus some travel, painting the house and shopping has kept me busy.  But now a fear arises.  I have found – heard and seen that evil does exist – here and many, many places in the States.  If you google search “best and inexpensive places to live,” three quarters of them will indicate the good along with “higher crime rate” exemptions.  I ask, why aren’t our cities safe anymore?  Why do we fear the dark of night and the misery of man?  The other day on the highway another police chase and gunman.  Desperate times make desperate people.  No money equals no gas, groceries, rent.  People are not born evil; evil comes upon them by their choices or the choices of others thrust upon or ingrained into them.  The little baby who grows up to shoot people at random wasn’t thinking to hurt anyone; evil changed him. 

God doesn’t desire any of His children to be evil or to turn to it for answers.  He calls us to Him no matter how far evil has struck them down and turned them against others.  He calls the sick, the sinner; he calls each one of us to His sacred heart.  So, what can I do now that I live here and am surrounded by disorder created and sustained by evil?  How do I go to Him in my fear?

I pray for all of us.  The victims, the perpetrator, the bystander who could have done something to stop evil before it took over, those trapped in their homes in fear.  I will pray and be vigilant in not giving evil any more foothold than possible.  Locking my doors, cars and being aware of my surroundings will help.  And to always remember, a person may commit evil, but they are not evil itself – they cannot be because the most-high God cannot create evil.  God may allow evil to occur, but He also can make good from any bad. 

Put your faith in Him alone and help me to pray to end the evil that surrounds my new home, as well as many others in larger cities across the country and the world. We know who wins and it isn’t the evil. Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, KING of the Universe!