ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 29, 2026
On Thursday morning, I went for an early morning walk, trying to get it in before the temps rose too high. I often walk on the streets in my neighborhood as the sidewalks are not great. At one point, I could hear a car approaching from behind. It was not loud, and when I glanced over my shoulder, I knew why it was quiet. It was a Tesla. I stepped a little closer to the curb, even though there was plenty of room. As the car passed me, I didn’t realize the back window on the passenger side was down, and hanging out the window was a dog… my guess, a poodle of some kind. I did not even glance until the dog was about a foot from my ear and started barking very loudly. In that moment, I was so glad I had used the bathroom before leaving the house, otherwise… well… you know. For a few moments, I was pretty shaken. My watch showed that my heart rate was elevated a little higher than usual. But after a moment, once I realized what had occurred, I found the initial shock dissipating. And after another minute or two, I was back to my usual self.
On the rest of my walk, I got to thinking about the difference between being startled and being scared. There are times when we are startled, and we are still shaking after a period of time. It happens. But when someone is genuinely scared (fearful), it is often long-term. And the source of the fear remains real and present. Our response to someone who has been startled as compared to someone who is scared (notice, one is past tense and the other is present) is going to be different. What we must remember is that a word of comfort and calm can be helpful when a person has been startled, but when the reason for the fear is still present, the response might include walking alongside someone or even trying to confront the source of the fear, which is better when it is done as a group. Sometimes we are startled and sometimes we are scared. Knowing the difference is important for everyone involved.
Wherever people are truly frightened for whatever reason, I pray for friends and advocates to come alongside with a sacred presence that announces your presence, Holy God. Amen.
