Fear, drugs, and pigs

If you have a tv or computer you have heard more than your share of the flu that is wreaking havoc in Mexico City and is making an attempt to threaten more lives outside the borders of Mexico. So what? So what is your response? Does it affect you? Does it even make you think twice about washing your hands or covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze?

At first it didn't really bother me too much and then when I saw my friend wearing a mask at work one morning while he was outside, all by himself working I thought,"This is craziness, a bit of overkill."

I remembered the Sars semi epidemic in China a few years back and all the fear the media raised over it. I remembered the swine flu outbreak, very small, in the 70s. I remembered these because I began seeing people with masks on walking down the street or in places of business. Kind of weirded me out.

I will admit I have watched a ton of news coverage lately due to the pig flu. More than normal. I have read more than my share of internet articles too. Just curious.

But I am trying to not do the one thing that the media and the rest of the world wants, I am trying not to live by fear. I am trying to be wise and use common sense, but I am not going to resign to the fear that drives the media these days.

Anyone remember the year 2000 or what was it Y2K? Remember the overall fear and paranoia during that time? The powers that be had convinced us to be afraid and prepared, but mostly afraid. I never bought into it, maybe you didn't either. I actually did buy some extra drinking water though, about 4 gallons.

There's another crazy thing that is going on in Mexico and has for as long as we have been here, 5 years......the drug war. Many groups will not be coming to Mexico this summer because of the drug war. My guess is many more will not come because of the flu virus. Think about this, mission groups who are supposed to be on mission for God to spread the faith of the gospel, but are too afraid to go.

Maybe we should rewrite the great commission, "Go into all the world unless you git scared.."? Hum, we could rewrite some other verses as well.