I read an article by Michael Crichton a few weeks ago in Parade magazine. He's one of my favorite sci-fi authors, and he grew up with a lot of us boomers.

     He hit on all our old fears, and what great Sci-Fi could be woven from society's paranoia.  I agree with Chricton that our dreads in the 70's are not our current concerns.

    For example, my generation wondered whether we dared give birth to children.  In the face of the "population explosion," we figured that people would live longer and healthier until the earth was overburdened with mouths to feed.  But then, we didn't count on the continuing ignorance of genocide, the widespread use of abortion, or the pandemic of AIDS.  We thought, when abortion was instituted, that it would be a last resort for those who were caught in a terrible predicament.  We never pictured abortion as a normal birth control option.  And surely the United Nations would intervene in all those nations destroying themselves with civil war, or sense and civilization would prevail within the countries themselves.  AIDS we never imagined in our wildest nightmares. There is a much bigger problem with widespread death than population explosion. 

     I recall a conversation with a dentist in my early married years.  He asked how many children we had (3) and whether we were ever concerned about bringing more population into this troubled planet.

    "I'm hoping my children will be part of the solutions of our world," I spoke idealistically.  I wasn't out of my twenties yet.

    "I have four kids," he quipped, "and I'm concerned that they'll be causing all the problems of the world."  I wonder whether he lived in such a way that his kids fulfilled that expectation.

     All these years later, I know that my naive hopes for my children are coming true .  The oldest two have committed their lives to teaching.  They all three go on humanitarian mission trips.  They are good friends to friends; they are the designated drivers.  They reach out to classmates in trouble and attempt to share Jesus Christ.  

     Back to the phobias....all those things I worried about over the years came to nothing, and so many really wonderful things occurred instead.  What are my present anxieties?  Our neighborhood has been under seige with driveway robberies, and these have given way to vicious home invasions.  I fear that this could occur to us...or that the cancer attacking so many friends and loved ones will be found in my body...or that a car accident will steal the life of someone dear to me. These are the concerns that attempt to steal my joy today.

      None of us is immune to these things, but we have to live life, not fear it.  I'm 46 years old.  All my children know the Way to Heaven.  I've been to Cacun--(if you haven't, please go!) There is no one in my life with whom I need to make peace or apologize--I do this along the way immediately as I make many goofs.  Life is too short to worry.  We must explore our beliefs, rejoice in relationships, treasure the small and great beauties in the world.  As Jesus said, "He he would save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."  This truth has forever put to bed my deepest phobias.