Coyote Fear

Yesterday, I opened my front door to this letter. Everyone in my neighborhood did. Take a second to read it.

There are so many things wrong in this letter. At its core it teaches us a lot about the power of fear in our lives.

• The letter is completely anonymous. It’s a letter about fear from a person too afraid to reveal who they are.
• A concerned neighbor expressed a legitimate concern. Coyote are dangerous to pets. Let’s agree that this note came from a very good place, right?
• The solution offered is counter-intuitive. Hiding your animals and yourself in your house will not scare away predators.
• The neighbor doesn’t talk about the one obvious solution: Calling animal control.
• There’s a cynical side of me that wonders if this isn’t really about coyote, it’s a passive-aggressive note about keeping your pets indoors at night. Maybe this neighbor was awakened by a dog barking or two cats fighting? And there are plenty of neighbors feeding lots of stray cats.
• The note talks about facts, says there is evidence to back up these facts, but provides no specifics as to where you could see the facts.
• The notes use of hyperbole is impressive, poetic even, like a chapter of Inferno.
• “Every cat left outside will be attacked, killed and eaten.” That’s my favorite line. It reminds me of the nightly news.

Fear is big, bold, all caps… and delivered on your doorstep while you sleep.

Remember: Jesus is not the author of fear.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ John 10:10