Out of the Darkness into the Light

Chapter 18 Under Attack

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. ―Psalm 91:5

Late one evening, I reflected on how my life had changed, as I walked through the house talking out loud to God and asking what His plans were for me now. While I had no vision for my future, I knew without a doubt that God was taking care of my family. Having this assurance made it possible for me to step into each new day and hope for a better tomorrow.

Without warning, my reverie was broken by a crash that came from the living room, where I found a brick that had been hurled through a front window. My heart was in my throat.

Is someone breaking into my home? Will there be another gunshot through a window? Will another snake appear? Who could have done this?

Someone was trying to harm me. In each attempt, they damaged my property and caused me frustration and fear, but they had not been able to physically hurt me. I was so aware of, and thankful for, God’s protection. This called for another report to the police, who were becoming well-acquainted with the incidents of my life.

The police finished their report and I covered the broken window with cardboard, but I had little time to worry about the window because I discovered a water pipe had burst causing a flood in the basement. Apparently the pipe had developed a slow leak behind a wall, for an undetermined time, before breaking open. The drywall in a storage closet was so damp that an entire section crumbled into pieces when I touched it. I turned the water source off and began mopping up the flood.

The next morning, I was thinking about the flood when I walked out the front door. Suddenly, the storm door fell away from its hinges. I discovered the screws holding the storm door to its hinges had all been removed and the door had been held in place by the door casing. Someone was harassing me again.

When the police arrived to check on the storm door, they discovered screws had been removed from storm windows all around my house. One of the officers reminded me that they had conducted a thorough investigation of the exterior of the house when I called them on the previous evening. They had checked the security of each door and window and saw no evidence of tampering at that time. This clearly indicated the criminal, or criminals, had returned sometime after the police left in order to remove the screws undetected.

The police expressed concern that someone might be watching my house and might return to attempt a break-in. They used the word stalker for the first time and warned me not to open my door to strangers and to be careful when leaving the house or coming home. They suggested that I install motion detectors on all my windows. I had installed alarms on the wooden exterior doors when I tried to prevent Paul from running away.

Oh, no, here’s another unexpected expense, but I want to feel safe. I will install the motion detectors.

The police mentioned the possibility that this stalker might be the same person who shot through my office window. We didn’t have to wait long to learn more about the stalker.

A few days later, a mental health therapist contacted me and requested a private visit at my home. The therapist started the conversation by saying, “Normally, we don’t talk about our patients, but since you may be in danger, we agreed that we have an obligation to warn you. Recently, a patient at our facility became agitated and physically attacked a therapist. During that attack the patient screamed threats about wanting to kill you.

“The police were called and restrained the attacker, who was immediately transported to a mental hospital. The attacker confessed to stalking you, shooting into your office, watching you and your home at night from a parked car, throwing a brick through your window, and using a cordless drill to remove the screws on your storm door and windows.

“Any information about this person’s medical history and mental condition is protected by medical privacy laws as confidentiality between therapist and patient. We are unable to provide any motive for this episode, and we don’t know if there was a second partner involved in the stalking and vandalism, but we felt you had the right to know that you have been in danger from at least one unstable individual.”

After the therapist left, I felt weak and vulnerable. Satan was attacking me big time. This new information pushed my ongoing stress to an unbearable stage. I wanted to get some fresh afternoon air and began walking around my neighborhood.

How could this happen? What caused someone to stalk me? Why did they shoot at me? I have not been involved in any arguments. I am too busy trying to survive and have no time or energy for senseless disagreements. Why did they threaten to kill me? Will the attacks ever stop? The confession did not mention the snake. Will another snake appear? My life has become a soap opera. Is there ever going to be peace in my life again? Oh, God, I throw myself at your feet and beg for protection.         

I walked and prayed until I came to a huge cottonwood tree, where I sat down, and leaned my head against its trunk. For the first time in a long time, the pent-up sorrow of my soul spilled out in tears that were long overdue. My misery poured out in deep, inarticulate groaning and loud, uncontrollable sobs without any shame that someone might see or hear me.

The Father heard and answered my inarticulate prayer―the stalker never returned.