Heather Ernsbarger, on growth

Due to the circumstances last week, I did not have time nor did I have the inspiration to write a column.

Most grandparents have the tendency to brag on their grandchildren. In the past I have used creative stories that our oldest granddaughter wrote. For her age, she is a good writer. Heather (14) is in the freshman year of high school.

At Conway, Arkansas, a rapid growing community, there are two high schools -- one for grades 9 and 10, and the other for 11 and 12 grades.

In that community, people identify themselves with which subdivision they in.

About two years ago, I think it was Heather's brother Brenton, who asked what subdivision we lived in. He was about 5 at the time.

Last week, Heather realized that I was having difficult writing my column. She attempted to come to my rescue by writing one. I had already contacted the editor to inform her that I would not have a column, when I received Heather's.

Being impressed with what Heather had written, I wanted to share it with you readers. It demonstrates the insight that she has and her deep faith as a high school student. The street she is talking about where more traffic will be is not the street they live on, but another street about two or three over that runs parallel to theirs.

Her column illustrates how rapidly things can change in a community.

Her column follows:

Heather Ernsbarger

"Becoming Large"

We are living, today, in a world that has seen its better days. And if you are reading this right now, you're standing in a country that is not doing this world any justice. This world, and particularly this country, has become one of hatred, stealing, and lying. People are always careful, always cautious, always fearful of what might happen.

Fear is one of those things that my English teacher calls a paradox. Simply because fear is a wonderful-terrible thing You're probably thinking, "Wait. How can something be wonderful and terrible at the same time?" I'm writing this to tell you.

Recently, my parents have had to take a step back and seriously consider moving. A big builder has bought a country club near our neighborhood and is planning to turn part of the golf course into a massive amount of apartments. The residents of these apartments will also be granted free membership to another country club on the other side of our neighborhood where liquor is sold. There is a road that connects apartment site to the country club. This road, however, runs right through our subdivision. If I know one thing, it's that people that like to party or drink, plus alcohol driving through a subdivision equals a bad idea and big problems. We are fearful that there will be an exquisite amount of speeding and houses could be vandalized. This is an example of a terrible fear that no one wants to put up with.

A lot of people would like to make an impact on the world. Some succeed, while others do not. Making an impact doesn't always have to be positive. There are many people who make negative impacts as sure as anything. Fear, in one of its terrible ways, is usually the result of this negative impact. When individuals rob, each other the victims become cautious. Being cautious means that there is something that you fear. When people kidnap little children on their way to school, people become careful -- careful of where their children play, careful of who their child plays with and careful of how long their sons or daughters stay out and who they are going to see. If you trace the carefulness back to the root, you find fear. This kind of fear is the terrible kind. This kind of fear is when you stop to think, "If the world wasn't like this I wouldn't have to worry."

But there is another kind of fear. Fear that is of the wonderful nature. The fear I'm speaking of is the fear of God. It's a wonderful fear simply because it is that of respect.

When we fear God we know that he is mighty and powerful. He can do anything.

When you really stop and think about it. It's mind-boggling. If you don't believe in God, or believe in other gods, that's fine, really none of my business. But if you do believe in God then you know that there is such thing as good fear.

When kids fear a teacher at school, it's usually because deep down they actually have a sense of respect for him or her. Fear, in the positive way helps keep order.

It helps to make known who is the boss and who is not in both cases: God and man, and teacher and student.

Someone very wise once said, "There is nothing to fear, but fear itself."

Some believe this, while others do not. I'll let you be the judge of how you feel about it.

I hope I have impacted the world, at least in a small way. The good impact that many try to achieve. Both wonderful and terrible fear is a major part of people's lives. I hope I've at least touched on which one should be more important.