Sick with fear and worry (long vanity)

September 5, 2003 | Self

[LibWhacker]

I am more of an absolutist than you are and came to terms (of sorts) with Islam some time ago, not that that helps me worry any less about it. I believe we are witnessing the beginning of the final chapter of a great clash of civilizations despite all the pollyannish PC denials to the contrary. I believe it will be a fight to the finish and that there can be no truce.

The civilized world is completely incompatible with Islam. We cannot accomodate their views. They cannot accomodate ours -- or anyone else's. The survivor of the clash will determine the course of human history from roughly this time forward. The loser will play no part in the remainder of that history. The only question for me is will America realize it in time to save herself? I do not know, but am fairly pessimistic about the outcome because of all the democrat traitors in our midst.

[marbren]

God will see how we treat Israel. If we turn our backs we are doomed.

[CDHart]

"The world HAS gone crazy."

One of my favorite sayings is "the world has become a lunatic asylum and the lunatics are in charge!"

Carolyn

[marbren]

There is hope. It is a free gift from God. I have this hope. I will live forever in peace.

[boris]

"The civilized world is completely incompatible with Islam. We cannot accomodate their views. They cannot accomodate ours -- or anyone else's. The survivor of the clash will determine the course of human history from roughly this time forward. The loser will play no part in the remainder of that history. The only question for me is will America realize it in time to save herself? I do not know, but am fairly pessimistic about the outcome because of all the democrat traitors in our midst."

I concur. I hope that if one or two "9/11s" of equal or greater magnitude happens, it will finally wake us up and end the denial. That--at a minimum--is what it will take.

I am increasingly pessimistic.

--Boris

[Movemout]

I do not question your sanity. I share many of your thoughts and worries. I have dealt with it in my own ways. One of the most important, to me, is to remind myself that if the world erupts in a total orgy of killing, then I will take up arms and do what is right until I am dead. I am comfortable with that idea since I spent many years as a military professional. It may not be as comforting to you.

[LadyDoc]

I agree with the others.

You need to pray.

Now, maybe you don't believe, but "belief" in the US often means a fuzzy emotion. It is not. It is the intellectual decision that there is a larger reality, and that someone else is in charge, and that in the long run things will work out for the good.

When I was in college, the "cold war" was assumed to be lost, and anti US sentiment was rampent. Students loved red China, Cuba, and felt communism was the way of the future. But when I expressed my worries to a friend from India, she pointed out that people just won't live forever in a tyranny, and that in the long run they will express themselves to be free and raise their children in peace. It took India 300 years to decide to do this against the English, and that undoubtably the Russians etc. would also do this. And she was right: Twenty years later, people stood up and said no, and the berlin wall fell.

ALL countries have a tradition of folk tales where God (or someone else in charge) helps those fighting against tyranny. The bible is full of it. The ancient tales of India tell of this. Europe is full of such tales, such as Robin Hood.

It is telling that the "book of the century" according to a British poll was not the nihilistic PC books but the book "the lord of the rings" which tells of a group that opposed tyranny.

So if you don't believe, or can't pray, you might study history and learn the lessons of the past, or read the stories that tell of a long struggle of humans who long for justice and freedom. And you will find that these tales echo the idea that we live in a terrible world of suffering, but that there is joy in the morning.

And there is someone or something in charge that helps us so that the evil will not prevail.

[LibWhacker]

I hope that if one or two "9/11s" of equal or greater magnitude happens, it will finally wake us up and end the denial.

Yes, me too . . . In that regard I think 2004 could be the most critical election in the nation's history. If Dubya loses, it'll be an utter disaster; I can't see any of the democrat candidates responding adequately to another 9/11, or to a nuke or bio-attack by al Qaeda. And we know that as long as al Qaeda is still around they'll keep trying and will probably succeed at some point.

[djf]

It always surprises me that people believe that the Crusades are new. Not so. There have been horrific was going on for centuries.
"The survivor of the clash will determine the course of human history from roughly this time forward. "

Might makes right?
Or maybe it's desperation, on both sides.

[LadyDoc]

I should also add: you might also see a doctor.

Some people have obsessive/compulsive tendencies. This personality makes people good business people. But under stress, it can become exaggerated into a chemical imbalance.

Then we see the vicious circle of worries consuming a life, and then the daiy living deteriorates, which increases the worried. Certain medicines can help break the cycle, not to "tranquillize" a person, but to make the person more in charge of his/her life, i.e. more normal. It is a fine line. We have tranquillizers that make people not care about anything, but a good doctor rarely uses them. We usually need to find something that makes a person be normal, i.e. their normal self, just like medicines help an arthritic function normally, not be a superathlete, or a diabetic to be able to function.

[djf]

Not even close.

[Captiva]

Hang in there double T! You are very sane and well thought out.

You think our generation has it bad? Imagine being alive before the middle ages when you live for maybe 30 years - all the while under someone's rich guys thumb.

There have been wars that have lasted for hundreds of years when your day consisted of finding the next meal!

Stay strong, be prepared to kill your enemies in defense before they kill you and live everyday (spiritually) like it's your last!!

[.30Carbine]

I so sympathize with you in your turmoil. I give in to it every now and then, but by the grace of God I overcome and persevere in these darkening days, where evil is called good and good evil. No wonder, following his vision of the end times, Daniel was sick for three days.

My husband, a very wise man, whom the Lord gave me in answer to my prayers for a spiritual helpmate and leader, reminded me just last night that my "practice" is all that matters. What he refers to as my "practice" is:

Bible reading, for truth and wisdom to counter the lies and foolishness we hear and see daily
Meditation - upon His Word, His attributes (power, holiness, justice, mercy), His deeds and His promises - for perspective
Prayer, for clarity, for connection to and communication with the Almighty through His Spirit in the Name of Messiah Jesus
Fellowship with like-minded Believers for refreshment in companionship (two are better than one) and the aid of their prayers

My dear husband reminded me that if I am concentrating on these things I will be aware, prepared, and able to be of use to my Master and to others.

A pastor I was listening to yesterday reminded me that there are "Orbiting Christians" who get close to Jesus and find an orbit, content to revolve at that same distance for their whole lives; but the happy Christian is the follower, who chases hard after the Living God.

May the Holy Spirit guide you into the Way, comfort you with the Living Presence, and remind you of God's character, word, deeds, and His many fulfilled and yet-to-be-fulfilled promises.

[Jim Noble]

And that is that the pressure of always having to be on guard, always having to demonstrate superior strength against the onslaught of Arab hatred, may be impossible to sustain forever

Finally, a sensible comment about the situation Israel is in.

Israel cannot "sustain forever" this kind of pressure. There are being valiant, in a courtly, Victorian sort of way-it's almost Christian, all this turning the other cheek until there are no cheeks left.

There are two choices that exist in the real world:

1) Defeat their enemies. Not outnegotiate them, not get a meaningful UN resolution (as if there were such a thing), not get the Americans to intervene-start killing and scourging the Arabs, man, woman, and child, and don't stop until any pirate chieftain left is on his knees at Yad Vashem begging forgiveness for the sins of whatever people are remaining.

2) Start the evacuation.

The longer the choice is delayed, the more Jews will die.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Don't worry, be angry and believe. I reposted my feeling here on FR in Feb 2003 in the form of an open letter I wrote in Nov 2001. Click here

[didi]

You are not a whiner or a crybaby.

I have had the same feelings. I quit using the computer or watching television for about six months. Only checked my e-mail on the computer for about six months after that. It helped a lot. I also paint.

I have the same feelings about Israel. I was raised to understand the Lord's covenant with Abraham from the Bible in a way that convicted me to always stand for, or defend, Israel, which may seem silly to some, or to many. It grieves me to see the attitude most of the world holds toward Israel, and I fear the consequences for our nation if we abandon them.

I have come to the conclusion that, for me, to realize that I have little impact or power to change any of the animosity between the Islam world and Israel. It is a conflict that will not be resolved through peaceful means. God is sovreign, His will is what will happen, HIs plan is what will unfold, no matter what schemes men contrive. I can pray, and I can speak up for Israel's right to defend herself. I do feel that, as a believer, that is an obligation. The atmosphere I live in is not as difficult as yours, though.

You are obviously a very bright and thoughtful person. I will pray for you, and encourage you to turn off the media for a while, ban yourself from sites that are upsetting to you. Take a break. Have peace.

[palmer]

I don't understand all this pessimism. The Arabs have only pawns (the "Palestinians") while the Jews in Israel are mostly knights and bishops. The attrition is terrible but seems manageable to me.

[CaptSkip]

This should be required reading for all who think they should write a Vanity. Well done tictoc, and prayers to you.

Lots of thoughtful people have been obsessed and depressed for 2 years now. My therapist's effective advice is to stay away from the news as much as possible or it will eat you alive.

Actively look for distractions, and look to your faith.

[reveille]

Thanks for that and I wish I could offer any advice, but I can't.

[Jim Noble]

When you can use pawns to kill knights and bishops, you win the game.