Sitting in my apartment in Florence just days after the Brussels attack, I realize that this is a heavy time in our world, which makes writing about it even more difficult.
Before I chose to come live in Italy for a semester, the Paris attacks caused a lot of hesitation both in Lipscomb's global learning program and in my own mind. I kept up with the news, spent a lot of time in prayer and came to the conclusion that my gut told me to go and take heart knowing that I was making the right decision.
Just a few days ago, I woke up to news alerts on my phone saying another terrorist attack occurred in Brussels, just 12 hours north of where I am living in Florence. Some girls on my trip got stuck in Paris and had to find a flight out of the Brussels airport the day before the attack, which is nerve-wracking to think about, but a blessing that they made it back when they did. We sat in class that morning at a loss for words knowing that something this horrible happened yet again, this time closer than we've ever experienced before.
In times like this, it's easy to question everything: where God is, why things like this seem to be happening more and more frequently, when will something be done about it and how can we put an end to unexpected, calculated violence against people who have done nothing to deserve it.
Last semester, I wrote an article about what we lose when we live by fear, and I still believe that when we choose to let fear dictate all of our decisions we choose not to fully participate in life. I also believe in making intelligent decisions and taking threats like these seriously.
However, I refuse to allow ISIS or any other extremist group have control on my outlook on life. I read a quote once that said, "Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow." At 4,898 miles from home, it's tempting to give in to fear and panic, and I would be lying if I said that I've felt totally calm during this situation. These groups operate and thrive on the presence of fear, and while their actions are evil, I will not wake up here in Europe afraid to walk out my front door.
Sometimes faith is all you have, and you have to hold on to that with all you've got. One of my best friends at home told me in a moment of panic, "Don't miss it. Don't miss the beauty right there in front of you. You can't miss the struggles — they're unavoidable. But don't miss the good things."
For reasons I may never understand, my story included leaving the country for a few months. It included seeing things many people will never get to see, challenges deeper than I've experienced before and it's also forced me to strengthen my faith knowing that I'm right where I'm supposed to be.
Nobody can predict the future, and we can't live our lives from behind locked doors. Faith may be all you have, but if you have enough, it's plenty.
