Fight or Flight

5/12/2019

This week we laid to rest 21 year-old Riley Howell, of Waynesville, NC shot by a classmate at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. According to Charlotte’s Chief of Police, Riley tackled the shooter, saving the lives of his classmates. He “took the assailant off his feet before campus police officers arrived. Howell did exactly what we train people to do — you’re going to run, you’re going to hide and shield, or you’re going to face the assailant,” The Police Chief said. “He did the latter (and) his sacrifice saved lives.”

Unfortunately, this week, there was another shooting incident in Denver, Colorado at Highlands Ranch STEM School. 18 year-old Kendrick Castillio is now hailed a hero. “Castillo died trying to stop one of the armed suspects from firing, allowing his classmates to escape. He was one of several students whose heroic actions prevented further carnage.”

Reading the articles about Riley Howell and Kendrick Castillio, made me think of a term I had only previously used while teaching Biology. Altruism. We talked about this with meerkats, and how a single meerkat will be the lookout for the herd and will make a sound that actually draws attention to itself, but warns the others when a predator is approaching. Altruism is unselfish regard for, the welfare of others; behavior that is not beneficial to, or may be harmful to oneself, but benefits others of its species.

My husband and I were listening to the news about Castillio, and it made me think about my own fight or flight response. I told my husband that if I were ever faced with this type of situation, I thought my instinct would be to run.

He questioned me. “So, you think you can outrun a bullet?”

“Um, no. I just don’t think I would tackle a guy with a gun. I don’t think I would tackle a guy without a gun. My fear response, my adrenaline, would cause me to run. What about you?”

He said, “No doubt, I’m taking the gunman down. Later for running.”

I thought about this conversation for the better part of the day, I even began to wonder what the Bible said would be the more appropriate response. It tells us to in Proverbs 28:1, “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.” It tells us in Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” Jesus exhibited altruism for us. He gave up his life for our benefit. He did not flee from the circumstances that were to happen, He willingly laid down His life that we might have everlasting life. Jesus Christ is our example of all a long list of things man should be, and we can add to (he list that he is an awesome example of altruism.

(And I suppose my husband’s instinct is more Christ-like than mine :-|

AMEN!
Thank you for reading!
Kim

4 Comments

Archives

For all of the aspiring writers out there! Check out Kimberly's guide to how you can Start Writing.

If you enjoy this blog, you will enjoy Kimberly's 30 day devotional. Turn North. This title is from Deuteronomy 2:3. "You've circled this mountain long enough, now turn north."

Mom

5/12/2019 11:02:51 am

We just heard a sermon from Acts 4 about Peter who two months earlier was not bold but denied he even knew Jesus because he feared for his own life. But after he accepted who Jesus was and really believed in Him and The Holy Spirit came to live in Him, he became bold. The church came about as a result of his boldness. So when faced with fearful circumstances we might like Peter initially become fearful and flee, but Jesus understands our humanness and still uses us for great things, just as He did Peter. A great preacher friend of ours confessed when we learned several years ago about several Christians who prayed to God just before being beheaded, that he did not know what he would have done in that situation. None of us know, we have to trust God and ask for His strength and wisdom each day as situations confront us. Happy Mother’s Day!

Kim

5/12/2019 03:35:34 pm

Wow, very interesting. I've been thinking about this in terms of if there were a shooting situation, but also in terms of how I will walk away from other situations rather than fight. I need to learn how to get tough. This was also n my mind back in November when I posted about authority. I'm still very much a work in progress. Happy Mother's Day!

Janice

5/12/2019 11:04:19 am

I have been mulling over this question all week of what I would do. Stand to protect or flee and run? I like your husbands answer ...can you run faster than a bullet? Maybe when things are out of control the only thing we can control is our response. Fight fear with Gods armour and stand on solid ground. The devil has come to kill steal and destroy. Apparently fear is one tactic he constantly uses because it continues to work. In the United States, I believe many live with a constant struggle with anxiety, fear, and frustration which leads to someone behind a gun. There is an emotional disconnect within the younger generations and over the last 20-30 years it is my understanding that the ages of these shooters are always in the same age bracket. Perhaps one solution is getting mandatory mental counseling screening earlier in school per child to see who is at risk. Middle school and high school can be emotionally so difficult. The shooter in Charlotte lost his mother to breast cancer previously. Not making excuses but made me think of what was going on with this young man to want to go to school and murder his classmates when there was no “mental history” in his background. Are we any closer to preventing these shootings? We need to reach out to help the children once we identify who is contemplating suicide, self injury, or possibly harming others when their world seems so out of control. As adults we are so good at not being transparent and putting masks on our faces and saying “I’m fine” when in reality most of us are about to go through, going through or coming out of something. We need to be there for our friends and neighbors in this world. Our humanity is needing a boost for healthier living mentally spiritually and physically. Sorry for the ramble but felt like it needed to be said.
I challenge each one of us this week to find something positive to say and share it with a stranger, friend or family member. Peace.

5/12/2019 03:38:27 pm

Hi Janice, yes, fear is not of God. We must always fight against evil, and when we recognize evil, we must begin the fight. They said on the news that one of the boys in Colorado had said he would shoot his classmates on more than one occasion. Those types of comments must be taken seriously.

Happy Mother's Day!

Sighting Light

Fight or Flight

Leave a Reply.

Archives