SENTINEL WATCH October 3, 2005 Issue

MY BEST WEAPONS AGAINST FEAR

KATE DEARBORN

AS I WATCHED AND PRAYED while Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, I remembered the time in 1995 when family members called me from the US Virgin Islands, as Hurricane Marilyn was bearing down on them. Beyond the danger to lives such a storm presents, it's also tempting to fear the loss of homes, jobs, and those substantial intangibles: joy and security. My relatives did lose their home but came through the storm safely, and the islands' economy rebounded.

Lately, other kinds of anxiety appear to be building in our region. High gas prices tempt me to wonder if I'll be able to afford to take important trips, and there's no public transportation where we live. Recently, our state of Texas has been identified as having the most people without health insurance coverage— leaving many feeling vulnerable to healthcare costs.

Fear can seem to keep us captive, hold us back from doing what we ought to do, or from enjoying our lives. But, effective weapons against fear are always withing reach.