Five "T's Of Coping With Terrorism

Terrorism Hits America... Again!
Guest Blog From Association of Christian Counselors
www.aacc.net

Americans awakened on June 12, 2016 to horrific headlines: a gunman with apparent ties to radical Islam/Isis murdered 50 Americans and wounded more than 50 others in cold blood in Orlando, Florida. Not only was this vicious terrorist attack perpetrated on our own soil, it was done at the beginning of our summer vacation period in the most popular destination in the country for tourism and family entertainment. To date, this unconscionable act of violence constitutes the largest single mass murder in United States history.

Obviously the nefarious goals of these radical, violent attacks include inflicting widespread terror, trauma, and tragedy. While many of these terrorist attacks have occurred over the past few years around the world, and increasingly during the month of Ramadan (June 5th to July 5th), this kind of enormous death toll carried out on U.S. soil literally brings the war on terror home in a devastating and diabolic way.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed with fear and/or outrage in the face of this latest example of terrorism. Some will attempt to cope by politicizing or pigeonholing the perpetrator and/or the targeted victims in various ways. Yet, none of that posturing or pontificating makes us any more safe or secure. The simple truth is that these kinds of attacks make us all acutely aware of our fundamental human vulnerabilities and a generalized lack of safety for us and our loved ones in a fallen world where evil and wickedness often run rampant.

 These attacks can take place just as easily in any large gathering of people and to any targeted or random population: churches (as we have already seen), sporting events, concerts, amusement parks, state fairgrounds, or numerous other public experiences. Perhaps never before in our nation’s history are we so anxious to look over our proverbial shoulders for a sudden act of violence.

How, then, shall we as Christian counselors respond?

For starters, we must—as in all things—respond with faith, not in fear (see Psalm 46, 91, etc.). Although our circumstances can be, and often are, very fearful, we know our faith is not contingent on things we can see, grasp or control (Hebrews 11). God is in control. He is sovereign; we are creatures. And as with any other figurative or literal muscle, faith is strengthened when it is exercised. Here are five ways we suggest you exercise your faith in such a crisis as this:

1. Talking – We know that our anxieties diminish as we talk out our feelings to God and trusted others rather than act them out (1 Peter 5:7). Encourage your clients and congregants to pray for those affected, organize and participate in support groups, and share with, and pray for, one another.
2. Touching – We know that holding and hugging reduces stress hormones and creates a sense of comfort, especially when we experience grief, loss and hurt (Romans 16:16). Literal and figurative meaningful and appropriate touches help us connect and support one another in our humanness.
3. Togetherness – We know that compassionately connecting and communing with others provide support and represent caring and concern (Hebrews 10:25). Reaching out in meaningful and personal ways ministers powerfully to hurting souls. Meeting together is far more important than not doing so.
4. Teaching – We know that education always empowers, encourages, and equips the learner (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Skill acquisition produces self-confidence and greater ministry potentials. Training people how to lead grief groups, deal with trauma, and help parents learn to healthfully address their children’s fears will be a great service to your community.
5. Tasking – We know that all hard work yields a profit (Proverbs 14:23). Coordinating various churches, ministries, and organizations, as well as mobilizing community resources, can be challenging, but rewarding, work that will assist in bringing people help, healing, and hope.

The American Association of Christian Counselors is hard at work to help people, ministries, and churches in the greater Orlando area cope with, and recover from, this horrible tragedy. Pray and stand with us as we strive to minister to those who are grief-stricken in the Orlando community. When societal deterioration and darkness increase, our salt and light become all the more necessary and noticeable.

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