1. I remember that day, 9/11. It was
chaos. Violence, shortage of food. For several days, it was uncertain if they would
be more attacks, what kind, nukes? Chemical scare with a dangerous powder being
sent in sealed letters to members of Congress and key leaders. Lines to buy
gasoline and food, mosques targeted, Dow Jones losing half of the value… and
nobody knew for how long or if we will ever recover.
I remember how bad I wanted that someone I
trust, a pastor or a father figure, to appear on TV and look into the camera,
smiling, to reassure all of us that everything is going to be all right. I
didn’t want all the instructions and advices given by professionals of how to
be safe if case of more terrorist attacks or riots.
All I wanted was someone, a charismatic
figure, a FDR, someone looking like Roosevelt – what a
great communicator – to show up and say – dear friends, be calm, in less than a
month everything is going to be great. Just don’t panic and don’t assume the
worse… We have nothing to fear except fear itself.
2. I remember the stock market crash of
2008, people panicked, confused and scared. All that prosperity, all that
market buzz of more profit, buy, buy, buy, was a bubble that suddenly did burst
spectacular. Maybe this is not a good word. Anyways, evictions, foreclosures,
unemployment, panic.
I remember how bad I wanted that someone I
trust, a pastor or a father figure to appear on TV and looking into the camera,
smiling, to reassure me, to reassure all of us, that everything is going to be
OK. I didn’t want all the instructions and advice given by professionals of how
to stay safe in case of a shooting or riots.
All I wanted was someone, a charismatic
figure, a kind of Ronald Reagan – what a great communicator – to show up and
say – dear friends, be calm, in short time everything is going to be all right.
Just don’t panic and don’t assume the worse…
3. Now today our governor announced tougher
measures in order to keep the coronavirus scare under control. Shortage of
masks and gloves, zero toilet paper, even some foods not available like before.
And people got tense. They’ve lost their smile, their patience, they’ve lost
the hope that we will ever get out from this healthcare nightmare and economy
collapse. They are turning to politicians only to hear statistics. They are
turning to preachers only to hear clichés. And they panic.
I want so bad to watch on prime time TV a
charismatic figure, a kind of Mister Rogers – what a great communicator – smiling
while saying something I heard him say before, “dear friends, when I was a boy
and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look
for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.
1 Look for helpers. 2 Be a helper, yes. 3
Remember also that help is on the way, Christ is going to get us saved, out of
this sin-quarantined place. Help is on the way; hope is the only way.
