Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, played by Michael Conrad, gave roll call and the morning report to the men and women comprised of the precinct on Hill Street. He was the father figure to the police officers and the voice of reason. After summarizing the local crime activities, he dismissed the officers but not before warning them, “Let’s be careful out there!”
Police work is hard and dangerous work. Police work in the urban cities carries its own unique difficulties with so many people living in such tight quarters. A daily reminder to keep vigilant is not only needed but wise in its own right.
We live in a time of heightened anxiety. Fear feels like it’s lurching behind every corner and dark alleyway. With the opioid crises still hovering, crime rates higher than what is comfortable, amount of (sex) trafficking keeps growing and with the high level of domestic violence, we need reminded to be careful out there.
Being careful out there does not mean we embrace fear, for we are a people of faith. But being people of faith also does not mean we ignore our surroundings, in fact we should be mindful of what is happening around us. Even Jesus exhorted the Twelve to mindful of current events unfolding around them, either in regard to the temple’s destruction and/or to his return (three times he says “watch” in Mark 13:32-35). But he doesn’t tell us to be afraid, worried or filled with anxiety.
I believe what drives the fear today comes from two sources. First is the twenty-four hour news cycle. Not only do these news media outlet use fear to drive their coverage/agendas, but the fear keeps us from turning it off. Like a cliffhanger, we’re driven to see what happens next. Ultimately, we have no time to process and reflect on the information feeding us (Ps. 1:2; 46:10). So we’re overwhelmed by information and exasperated at the same time.
Secondly, social media exasperates our fear. By leveling the playing field, a person’s voice is heard and engaged when normally they are discarded or ignored. Even more so, he who has an opinion caries the same weight as a specialist in that same field (and memes are viewed, not as satire, but as solid truth). Everyone, then, is an expert accountant, historian, theologian, doctor, etc. Feeding that mindset is the amount of disingenuous websites available to the public, wherein we know nothing of their origin or agenda. Even then, conspiracy theorists throw shade on the fact-checkers. We’re overwhelmed with information and have (or should have) trust issues with sources of information. No wonder we live in a time of heightened fears.
As people of faith we neither panic when facing uncertain times nor be dismissive without cause or evidence. True faith is the non-anxious presence, like Jesus sleeping on the boat in the midst of the storm (Mk. 4:35-38). The wind and the waves were real and the disciples were afraid. Fear, not just of the deep, but the actual danger drove the disciples into panic. But Jesus is not simply sleeping on the job or sticking his head in the sand to hoping the storm goes away. He’s resting in the One who holds the world in his hands. He lives in faith.
Faith might mean we use the news media to get the information we need, and then turn it off so that it does not consume us. Faith might mean we put social media aside so that we stay in our moment, not someone else’s moment. Faith might mean we’re staying prepared for an emergency without being consumed by something that may or may not happen. Faith might mean not crossing the emotional/imagined bridge before actually arriving at the bridge. Faith might mean inviting someone to your table, even if the oil runs dry. Faith might mean washing your hands for twenty seconds, then going on with life as normal. Faith might mean creating some physical distance without creating emotional distance.
So Sergeant Esterhaus was right, “Let’s be careful out there!” And while we’re being careful, let’s avoid checking our faith at the door on the way out.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)