Somebody Is Watching You
“Nosey Neighbors” photo by James Ellsworth on Flickr.
By Lisa Nordell-Detres
Did you panic just a little when the news came out recently about the extent to which our government has been spying on American citizens? We value our freedoms and rights, including the right of privacy. The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution spells it out: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Having learned from personal experience, I often say that one should never enter anything into electronic form that he/she would not want shouted from the rooftops. That becomes clearer every time we hear about some embarrassing e-mail or social media post that is publicized. Most of us feel that we have nothing to hide, but how our personal information might be used is of concern should that information fall into the wrong hands.
What are we to do, then? I have spoken with people who won’t even use a computer for fear that their personal information may be compromised. While it is possible for a few people to live “off the grid,” that option is not practical for those of us who work in normal jobs and raise families. It may be an infraction of our civil liberties, but the fact is that much of our information is already in a database somewhere and there isn’t much we can do about that. There is a greater concern about our personal lives, anyway.
Proverbs 15:3 says that “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” (NIV) Not only can God see what we are doing when nobody else is around, He also knows our thoughts and deepest desires, whether good or evil. David advised his son, King Solomon in his coronation speech, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (NIV)
This advice is just as relevant for us today. We need to acknowledge God and serve Him wholeheartedly with a willing mind. If we truly live our lives to please our Heavenly Father, we will not need to fear anything the world may throw at us or mine from our personal data.
Lisa Nordell-Detres is a mother of four, grandma to two boys with a third on the way (!), a pastor’s wife and has worked in the garment and customer service industries in southern California. Besides writing, Lisa enjoys cooking, sewing, organic gardening, hiking, skiing and doing most anything outside.
Lisa was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Fashion Design from Woodbury University and an MBA from California State University at Northridge. Lisa, her husband and their youngest child now live in central Oregon.
