“Let us be of good cheer, however,
remembering that the misfortunes to bear
are those which never come.”
James Russell Lowell
They didn’t announce it in the front pages of the newspapers. Heck, they didn’t even have the courage to face their victims. In the dead of the night, had we not acted quickly, they hurled a smoke bomb into our home and plunged our family in to the “Nightmare before Christmas.”
The orange residue from the bomb which they threw at our house covered everything, leaving permanent destruction in its path. Firefighters noted that a few minutes later, the family might not have escaped. Who could commit such a cowardly, mindless act? Hopefully it was over. For the sake of the children who were visibly shaken by such senseless violence, we would try to resume our normal routines and assume everything would blow over.
But life keeps getting in the way of our plan and, consequently, on November 1, a second bomb shattered another front window causing more consternation.
Now we were becoming more than a little concerned, not knowing our assailant. Our life changed dramatically. My wife Rosemary and I would take turns staying up at night for sentry duty. The windows boarded, the dark days haunted our spirits as we sat in what had now become a bunker, oblivious to the outside world.
As pressure mounted, tempers became shorter and we found ourselves very testy. Still not knowing the culprit, we became more obsessed with the importance of discovering the answer. The boards came down, the windows were fixed and we found ourselves monitoring vehicles throughout the night.
Our lives have changed in other ways. Sleep deprivation does strange things to the human animal. Suddenly everything takes on a new perspective, particularly time. That’s the one thing we cannot control. Nor do we know how much we have. So it’s important to utilize it like the precious resource that it is. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may be too late. Today is all that matters. So goes the thought pattern.
It has also been a great opportunity to review recent events and to analyze where our society is heading. In recent years, attacks on the family have been escalating. The myth of the “politically correct society” has intimidated many traditional thinkers to modify their views and forfeit their rights.
But nowhere is there more intimidation today than in the written word. Writers are often told what to write and the mainstream media dictates the prescribed slant. There is politically correct jargon which is daily becoming more demanded. The pen may be mightier than the sword, but it is becoming very difficult to “get the word out.”
Christians appear to be particularly vulnerable as this new world order sets the agenda. For while we turn the other cheek, occasionally we fail to speak up and stop the destruction of everything good in our society.
Across the nation, as we approach Christmas, many traditional concerts in public schools have been cancelled in lieu of the politically correct multicultural concept. In many places, the traditional Christmas scene is now banned. Christians are often accused of offending others – how long will it take before we become offended?
What better time than Christmas to remember the importance of our Christian principles and vow to fight to protect what is our rightful inheritance – an inheritance which we have a duty to pass to our children.
From our bombed-out bunker in Vancouver, we would like to thank all those whose kind words and generosity during a trying time has lessened our load. May all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
(Paul Nielsen’s column returns this month. Last month he and his family suffered through two house-bombings. Police suspect he was targeted because of his outspoken pro-life beliefs. Donations to the Paul Nielsen Fund can be made through the Interim. Editor.)