Tag: Living your faith

Gross encounters of the unwanted kind

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Living our faith4 Comments

A woman in her 80’s stopped by my office this week to reflect on a time she had been sexually harassed by a college classmate. Although the event occurred decades earlier, she still hesitates to attend school reunions, fearful to encounter him again.  “Just seeing him makes me feel sick to my stomach,” she said, “Do you know what I mean?”

I do indeed.  I would be willing to bet that every woman understands. If we gathered a group of woman together, each one would have at least one story of a time when she was harassed, molested, assaulted or spoken to in a way that made her feel disrespected or dirty or ashamed. Or just plain angry.

It’s been all over the news lately. The politics of the situation are not as important as the need to have this conversation, to get the problem out in the open.  Our sons and our daughters must listen so they learn to treat one another with respect.

We can start by sharing our stories. The “gross encounters” that I have experienced are probably no worse than anyone else’s.  I could tell you about the time when

  • Two boys were playing a rough game of tag with me at a school picnic when I was eleven. Suddenly one of them grabbed me and pushed me to the ground, pinning my arms down while the other boy reached under my shirt.  I can still hear their breathless laughter. That ended when a male teacher yelled, “What are you kids doing?” He then went on to childe me about teasing boys.
  • I was on my junior year abroad from college, backpacking with a male companion by train through Europe. He behaved like a gentleman for our entire trip, living up to our agreement to travel as friends, despite sharing rooms and living in close quarters. But on a night train to Rome as I ventured down the corridor to the bathroom, a stranger lunged out of a compartment, pushed me against the wall, and tried to kiss me as his hands groped my body. It was only when I brought my knee up suddenly that he stopped and pushed me away.
  • I received an envelope in the mail filled with images of violent pornography after challenging my male college dorm mates about the volume of their music. “Women should be quiet” was the only repeatable phrase scrawled across the vile photos. I could never prove that it was them, but I always felt afraid when I walked by their room.

Many women have experienced much worse.  Many women live in fear every day.

Every Sunday I announce God’s grace and forgiveness by announcing, “You are cherished by God.”  I want everyone in my congregation to know they are created in God’s image and deserve to be treated with respect.  Gender, race, sexual orientation – none of that matters. The person you see in the mirror – that person is God’s beloved.

Imagine how different the world would be if we treated one another that way.

Beyond our borders

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Genesis3 Comments

What happens when we only want to be with “our kind”?  I shudder when I see this poster advertising a Klan rally in my idyllic, peaceful town.  The poster clearly defines who was being addressed –  all “White, Gentile, Protestants” were invited.  That leaves a long list of folks who were not welcome at this gathering. This group of people who only wanted to meet with “their kind.”

kkk-rally-woodstock

1926 was a long time ago.  I have never seen a poster overtly encouraging segregation or advertising hatred. But you don’t have to look too far on Facebook or other social media to discover hate-filled messages and hurtful words.  There are many ways to communicate who is welcome in “our” circle and who is not.

This month our church is studying stories from Genesis. The Tower of Babel is described as a monument to self-preservation. God had told new his creation to go out, scatter far and wide, be fruitful and multiply.  And what did they do?  They “settled down.”  They stayed in one place. Instead of adapting a spirit of adventure and a curiosity to discover God’s diverse creation, the people hunkered down.

It turns out that being sedentary is not only bad for our health, it is bad for our spirits. Instead of expanding their horizons, the people stuck close to home with others who looked like them and talked like them. They didn’t want to be explore. They resisted change. They feared what (and who) might be “out there.” They celebrated their safety by building an enormous city complete with a tower symbolizing their self-absorbed complacency.

God put an end to all that.  God broke down the city walls and destroyed their tower.  The people were sent out to confront the challenges of different languages, races, and cultures. God’s people had to fulfill their destiny to “scatter throughout the earth.”

That ancient story comes to mind as I listen to candidates urging us to build a wall to protect our multi-cultural, complex, interracial nation. This story haunts me when I find myself avoiding people with opinions, lifestyles, and and customs different from my own. We are not called to a life of relaxed self-satisfaction. We are invited (and sometimes even not too gently nudged) beyond our comfort zones to places of encounter and learning and exploration.

All of God’s people are our kind of people. We become more complete not when we limit our interactions but instead when we dare to listen to and learn from each other.

 

Responding in a moment’s notice

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Faith7 Comments

The deer appeared out of nowhere. The driver two cars ahead of me slammed on her brakes but not before the deer skidded across her hood, swung up and over the roof of her car, and crashed down on the road, where it limped into the woods. And just like that, life had changed and the day was not the one that she had been expecting.

The car in front of me car stopped and the driver jumped out, ready to help and share her concern.  I wish I could say I responded with such enthusiasm.

As two pick-up trucks roared by, eager to continue barreling down the country road, I considered my options. I have to admit I hesitated. I could see no one was hurt.  A Good Samaritan was already on the scene to provide assistance. And honestly, I wanted to get home, tired after a long day of meetings, and yearning for a cup of tea before the evening’s activities unfolded.

A bit grudgingly, I pulled over.

And I’m glad I did. The driver who hit the deer was understandably shaken up.  Neither she nor the woman who had stopped were familiar with the area, so I was able to offer ideas about how to get help and describe just which corner of the woods was our current location.

Surprisingly (for our remote area), a kind, efficient and reassuring police officer arrived to offer assistance.  After a quick hug followed by well wishes, I was on my way.

But the incident left me wondering:

  • What if I went through life with this attitude – where can I help?
  • What difference, large or small, can I make?
  • Who might need a helping hand or reassuring word today?
  • What simple act of kindness might touch someone’s life?

We don’t always get to prepare our response. We don’t get to rehearse our attitudes. All of a sudden someone may need our help.  How will we respond?

Often it turns out that no special tools or skills are necessary.  Just showing up – just being there – we can make all the difference.

Henri Nouwen’s wisdom offers words to live by:

“Did I offer peace today?
Did I bring a smile to someone’s face?
Did I say words of healing?
Did I let go of my anger and resentment?
Did I forgive?
Did I love?
These are the real questions.
I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now
will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.”

helpings hands2

The opportunity to share compassion may come without warning – and we are asked to respond in a moment’s notice.

 

 

Myths of Motherhood

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Love4 Comments

“Cherish these moments,” cooing grandparents would tell me as they watched me tending my small tribe of children.  “These days will fly by.”

I hated that expression.  Inevitably, those words made me feel like a bad mother. Too often, they were simply not true. With three children under the age of four, many days did not “fly by.” Instead, there was often a seemingly endless parade of dirty diapers, spilled drinks, broken toys, missed naps, overflowing toilets or bathtubs, cranky children and even crankier mother.

These well-meaning adults, far removed from their own parenting moments, were passing along some myths of motherhood.  Idealized versions of parenthood are conjured up in commercials, greeting cards, Facebook and Pinterest. There are endless examples of smiling mothers and children enjoying tranquil moments of blissful calm as they share arts and crafts, tend exquisite gardens or create healthy meals. My reality never seemed to measure up. I often felt like I was falling short in the mothering department.

There was the day when my 3 year-old, 2 year-old, and infant all woke up well before sunrise, full of energy and ready to be entertained.  I struggled to rise to the occasion by reading books, offering craft ideas, and going for a walk (in itself, a feat that required ingenuity and stamina as I pushed the double stroller with the baby on my back).  Finally, I decided I would offer an early lunch so we could move on to naptime and a well-deserved rest for everyone.  Imagine my dismay when I looked at the clock.  It was 9:00 a.m.

No, days like that did not “fly by.”

Of course there are many precious memories. Those sweet moments of bedtime stories, snuggled together and delighting in escapades from far-away lands. The adventures of not one, not two, but three cross-country camping trips when we marveled at the beauty of changing landscapes and delighted at experiencing bison, mountain streams, and starry nights. Day-to-day family life, sharing laughter and games with friends and neighbors.

“Watch out!” people would warn us, “Before you know it, they will be grown up and gone.” But that isn’t the whole story. We do young parents a disservice, I believe, when we offer only the “Disney” version of parenting. Being a mother is the hardest and best thing I have ever done. A lot of time I was simply tired despite being blessed with my dedicated, hands-on, fully involved husband.

Instead of telling young parents that these moments will “fly by,” let’s share the wisdom an experienced mother told me.  “The days can be long,” she said, “but the years are short.”

Now our nest is officially empty; the era of all five of us living under one roof, regularly sharing meals and dividing chores is over. I am filled with gratitude for literally millions of cherished memories.

But I don’t want to forget the hard days. It took time, effort, and dedication to get to the point where our children could venture out independently.  Even now, we assure them that our nest has a revolving door; they can come home to re-group and re-establish themselves any time.

I am determined not to pass along myths about motherhood.  Instead, I want to offer new parents support, encouragement, and understanding as I acknowledge that many days will be far from perfect.  We don’t need the myths – the truth is more satisfying.

Long days, short years.   And blessings to last a lifetime.

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Holy Moments in a Secular Celebration

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Hospitality1 Comment

“Why does your church host a Fourth of July celebration?” I was asked in the midst of the joyous din that is our Fourth of July Jamboree. “Don’t you believe in the separation of church and state?”

I believe in it and give thanks for it daily. Our faith and beliefs cannot be dictated by any government. Our religious practices cannot be defined by outside forces. Separation can be a good thing. We are grateful for our country that allows us those freedoms. The Fourth of July offers the opportunity to give thanks for the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Life can rarely be neatly separated into “holy” and “secular” moments. God is bigger than particular dates on a calendar. If we have eyes to see and ears to hear, we can become aware of the holy, even adorned in red, white, and blue.

During our Fourth of July Jamboree, there were games for children, a parade, the firemen’s water polo, chicken barbeque, hay rides, and an eclectic mix of music from our bandstand. The day was quintessentially Norman Rockwell, an old-fashioned celebration that brought people together.

Yes, the Fourth of July is a secular celebration. Yet in the midst of it, I witnessed some holy moments.

  • Hush. There was a blessed quietness that spread through the crowd as we prepared to sing the National Anthem reminded me of a sacred moment of worship. For just a moment, there was a lull in the chaotic cacophony of crying babies, exuberant children, and enthusiastic adults as together we paused to lift up our voices together.
  • Respite. People took a break from their busy lives. The psalmist urges us to “be still” in order to experience God’s presence. “Still” is not the word that comes to mind while the Cornet Band plays and hundreds of people mill about the common. But the pace was slower. People went on hay rides, enjoying the beauty of farm fields with corn and cows.  Families relaxed with picnics as they listened to the music.
  • Jamboree 4
  • Fellowship. People took the time to talk and laugh while meeting old friends. One of the ironies of our modern media age is the experience of increased isolation.  We communicate with computers on a daily basis yet often long for simple, human interactions.
  • Real – not virtual – life. There was not a computer in sight. That in itself is a blessing. Children played games, colored pictures, and giggled in the bounce house while adults pitched horse shoes, and people of all ages lounged in the shade, content to gaze at puffy clouds dotting the deep blue sky.Jamboree 3
  • Encouragement. As our somewhat rag-tag parade wound around the common – twice – we cheered each other on. The parade offered an opportunity to admire beautifully restored antique cars, gratefully applaud the platoon of volunteer firefighters, and clap for children riding decorated bicycles, and little ones riding the homemade “hobby horses” they had created earlier. Wouldn’t life be better if we were always freer with our compliments and praise?
  • Community. There was at least one woman there who joined our congregation because of the Jamboree. When her husband passed away, her only experience with a church was the joy she discovered at this secular celebration on the 4th of July. She reached out in her need and discovered a congregation glad to offer support and companionship.

God can’t be regulated out of existence. On secular days, holy days, good days and bad ones, God can be found where God is needed most – with God’s people.

Summer, Sabbath, and other gifts from God

On By fosteringyourfaithIn FaithLeave a comment

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
~ Anne Lamott

Ahhh…summertime!  Long, relaxing days filled with sunshine, swimming, barbeques, and leisurely strolls.  Or – does your reality look somewhat different?  A date on the calendar – June 21st, marking the summer solstice – doesn’t mean that our worries have disappeared or that we will instantly experience a carefree life.

Do you feel weary?  Or perhaps a tad overwhelmed?  You are in good company; the American Psychological Association  describes the stress levels experienced by most Americans as a public health crisis. More than 44% of those surveyed reported moderate to severe stress. That strain can lead to coping behaviors like overeating, binge drinking, and interrupting sleep patterns. It is not a pretty picture.

To do list     How did we get here?

God directs, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy” Exodus 20:8.

Getting rest and turning to God for renewal is not a suggestion – it is a commandment, yet it is one that we break more than any other.  I wonder if we think some commandments are optional or if we assign them degrees of importance.  No, I won’t murder anyone.  But take a Sabbath rest?  Maybe another time…

Jesus beckons, “Come unto me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28.

We all received the invitation.  Why are we not RSVP’ing? Have we pinned a virtual “save the date” on our refrigerators, sure that we’ll get back to God at some point?

God doesn’t ask us to work ourselves into exhaustion. God doesn’t require that we go it alone, steadfastly relying solely on our own strength and abilities. In fact, God is continually offering comfort, strength, and support.

What would Sabbath look like to you?  For me, a symbol of Sabbath is having time for a second cup of tea. I’m a big tea drinker. Usually I only have time for one hurried cup as I perch on my chair, reading the newspaper (yes, I still do that), as I eat my yogurt and prepare to rush off to work. My mornings are a study in multi-tasking – doing the dishes while I wait for the water to boil, feeding the cats as the tea steeps, tucking away dishes as I assemble my breakfast. It is not what one might call relaxed.

Having enough time for two cups of tea means that my pace has slowed down enough to really enjoy it.  Slurping tea out of a travel mug balanced precariously in my car while bouncing along the back roads of Woodstock does not count.

Sabbath doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t even all have to happen on one particular day.  Sabbath can be

  • having the time to notice the array of flowers that are blooming right now
  • indulging in a good book
  • listening to birds twittering in the trees
  • taking time to write in my journal
  • taking time to pray about the joys and concerns in my life

Sabbath means slowing down and unplugging. Perhaps having a blank slate.

to-do-list blank

Sabbath is opening our hearts, minds, and spirits to God.

Sabbath is saying “yes” to God’s invitation to renewal.

During these summer days, how will you feed your spirit?

How will you enjoy some Sabbath renewal?

Another cup of tea?  Why yes, I’d love one.

Cup-of-Tea

It could have been me

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Faith4 Comments

Whenever tragedy hits the news I wonder – could that have happened to me?

Last summer in Connecticut a man was struck by lightning when he took shelter in a beach pavilion.  He thought he would be safe; he didn’t realize a roof alone wouldn’t protect him. I’m not sure I would have known that either.  I might have done the same thing.  That could have been me.

That thought crossed my mind when the little boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo.  Many people accused the mother of being neglectful or unfit.  But I remember too well what it was like trying to keep track of our three children under the age of four. Although I would jokingly say that their guardian angels worked overtime, there were many close calls and many occasions when events could have turned tragic.

There was the time at Sesame Place, a wonderful theme park outside of Philadelphia. One moment we were enjoying the antics of Elmo; in the next breath, my 3-year-old daughter disappeared. I frantically looked between the legs of strangers, under bushes, and behind rides.  She was nowhere to be found. We ran to the “Lost Child” center and there she was – grinning and laughing at the sight of her mother escalating from fear to anger to joy in a second’s time. Kids move fast. They slip away. They don’t think about consequences. When I heard about the boy at the zoo, I thought – that could have been me.

Or the toddler who was attacked by the alligator at Disney World.  Would I have known that “no swimming” meant not even wading up to a toddler’s knees? Would I have realized that danger lurked at the “happiest place on earth?” Would I have resisted a squirmy, perhaps fussy two-year-old on a hot, humid night or would I have said, “yes, let’s cool off our toes in this lovely lake?”  That could have been me.

Could me 2

I am that mother

  • Who put a Band-Aid on her daughter’s elbow, not realizing that her arm was broken.
  • Who allowed her son to careen down a hill on his bike, not imagining that he would plow down his siblings like a bowling ball barreling down the alley.
  • Who didn’t listen to her son the 15th time he reported seeing a bear while camping at a national park. “Just go and play so I can get supper together,” was my reply when, just like Peter and the Wolf, that time would lead to an almost too-close encounter.

Or what about my own antics from my distant youth?

  • Sleeping on a roof top in Athens, Greece?
  • Selling my blood in Italy to earn money for an unplanned boat ride?
  • Accepting a ride from a stranger to chase after friends on a late night in a strange place?

Those incidents (and many more) could have ended badly. There could have been a news story detailing an accident or abduction or assault. That could have been me.

We are so quick to judge when we hear tragic news stories.  Instead of jumping on the condemnation express, perhaps we could listen with grace-filled ears and then wonder – could that have been me? Haven’t there been times when it was only sheer luck and not superior knowledge or skill that kept me safe that day?

It’s more than just placing ourselves in another’s shoes. It’s realizing that on this very human journey, we make mistakes. Events occur that we didn’t plan or anticipate. Accidents happen. Our judgment is not always flawless. And in a moment, lives can change forever.

It could have been me.  This time, it wasn’t. So let me hold in prayer those who are suffering today.

candle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What aquacise teaches me about church

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Church9 Comments

Sometimes I learn about faith and the church in the oddest places.  Several times each week I attend a water aerobics, or aquacise, class.  I have always loved swimming so this form of exercise never feels like “I have to” but instead like “I get to” work out.

Lately as I engage in “deep water runs” or endless rounds of “water crunches, it occurs to me that my fellow classmates form a community much like the best aspects of a congregation.

There is great diversity in the aquacize participants. We come to class, all of us – the lame and that biblical description, the “halt” (defined in my dictionary as “one who limps”), the old and the young, men and women of every size and description.  Some people walk briskly from the locker room to the pool; for others, it is more challenging.

  • One woman rolls to the water’s edge in a wheelchair, her bright pink hair and cheery smile drawing attention away from her legs that struggle to support her and which barely move enough to allow her to get to the stairs into the water.
  • There is a man who calls himself “One-legged Dave,” who arrives promptly each morning. “I lost the leg below the knee to cancer, but that’s all that sucker got – the rest of me is still here!” He sits on a bench to remove his prosthetic leg with the molded plastic foot and replaces it with a rubber flipper. “I’ll be the fastest one in class – the only problem is, I’ll go in circles!”
  • An older woman wears thick black gloves in the water. I thought this was very odd until someone explained that she had been in a serious car accident. She was severely burned, leaving her skin sensitive to the pool chemicals.

I am in awe of the courage on display here. It would be easier for each one of them to stay home. They choose to come because they find something there that nourishes their spirits. I hope the same can be said for the church.

When this unlikely collection of people is brought together on land, one can hardly imagine that they could ever comprise an exercise group.  But then – they enter the water.

In that moment, they are transformed. All the differences and physical challenges disappear in the water.  Water, it turns out, is a great equalizer.  Suddenly everyone is the same height; all we can see of one another is our heads bobbing out of the water.  Creaky knees relax as they are lifted by the forgiving buoyancy, aching muscles ease as they are massaged by the gentle warmth that surrounds us.  People who can barely walk on land suddenly experience the freedom of graceful movement in the water.

The pool provides a release that we share with joy.  In my mind’s eye, I imagine the Holy Spirit moving in and through our class, anointing each of these individuals and binding us together as a group.

I hope people experience that kind of delight when they come to church. I hope the sanctuary is a place where all kinds of people can come together and experience renewed hope and welcome. People who are weighed down by challenges in life and those who are confronted with numerous limitations in other venues can hear the Good News – you belong here. The problems that we carry with us may not be forgotten but they will not be allowed to define us.

The pool –and the church – can be a place of encouragement where members are invited to stretch their wings and find a new definition for themselves.

Everyone, of course, has a story to tell and a reason why they show up for an 8:15 a.m. aquacise class. Some people arrive yearning for some serious exercise and look forward to the workout. Others clearly come primarily for fellowship, barely pausing in their conversations to listen to our enthusiastic instructor, who guides and encourages us with great patience and creativity.

People come to worship for lots of different reasons, as well. I hope the church makes them feel as welcome as the pool does. Church can be – should be – that place where all of God’s people are on equal footing, where all of us are enveloped by the loving grace of God’s Holy Spirit.  Church can be – should be – a place where we discover new possibilities, where we are told not what we can’t do, but instead are encouraged to be amazed by what God can do in and through us.

If you see me in class, you might think I am only trying to increase my core muscle strength, but in reality, I am learning again about how God teaches me about grace and welcome and the church in very surprising places.

 

Passages

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Faith3 Comments

“For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.  The days of our lives …are soon gone, and we fly away.”   Psalm 90:4, 10

Permit me to reminisce for a few moments.   In March 1993 there was an enormous, airport-closing blizzard which delayed our much-anticipated trip to Bolivia to pick up our infant son Daniel. After many delays, frantic phone calls, and fervent prayers, Roger and I landed in warm, sunny Cochabamba and embarked on a life-changing journey.  The details are still fresh in my mind and in many ways it seems like it was just yesterday; it is hard to believe that our beloved son will graduate from college on May 17th.

These are the markers of our lives – birth, death, baptism, wedding, birthdays, graduations – all those special occasions remind us of the passage of time and the preciousness of life, love, and relationships. This congregation has been part of our journey.  Before we departed for Bolivia there was a marvelous baby shower for us in fellowship hall.  When we returned, many of you met Dan even before his grandparents did.  He was baptized here. When I was a nervous young mother, he would be quietly passed from one set of loving arms to another while I led worship, preached, and chatted during coffee hour. It was a gift to know that he was well cared for by his church family.  We have pictures of him in the Christmas pageant (making the requisite transition over the years from sheep to shepherd to King Herod), riding his decorated bike at the Jamboree, singing in his blue RSCM robe, dressed up in a tie and jacket for confirmation, and singing with the men’s chorus on Palm Sunday.

Passages. Days, weeks, months, and even years slipping away. Children growing up and adults growing older. All of us are left shaking our heads and wondering, “Where has the time gone?”

Time does fly by and we seem in a hurry to try to catch it. I heard a wonderful sermon once entitled “Worshiping a 3 MPH God in a 100 MPH world.”  We live in a 24/7 society where we can be busy every moment if we choose to be. The pace can be so frantic that we may not even notice the people around us or the God who weaves in and through our lives. In a blink of an eye, it seems, years can go by.

We are the only ones who can decide to make changes in our own lives – we can choose to stop, or at least slow down.  How will we spend our precious time?  Who do we want to spend time with?  What dear friends are you always too busy to visit? What activities really matter?  Which ones will make a difference? When was the last time you noticed the beauty of the place that we all live – and when did you pause to give thanks for that blessing?

Here is an invitation to be aware of the passages that are part of all of our lives. Can we intentionally decide to cherish the moments of our lives and to give thanks for the people who enrich our days?  Take a moment right now and give thanks for some special person in your life.  And then take another moment to let them know just how much they matter.

Blessings on your journey through the many passages of life.

Graduation

A Tale of Two Trees

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Easter6 Comments

A Tale of Two Trees

We want life to make sense. Sometimes it doesn’t. Let me tell you a tale of two trees.

There was a tree growing by the side of the bucolic Merritt Parkway in CT. The trunk suddenly cracked, causing the tree to fall across the road, crushing a car and killing the parents of two young children who were sitting in the back seat. In an instant, lives were ended and a family was destroyed.

There was a tree by a lake. My sister-in-law and her best friend sat in the lovely shade, enjoying the breeze, looking out at the water, and sharing conversation. They got up and went inside the house. Fifteen minutes later an enormous limb plummeted to the ground, destroying the now unoccupied chairs. Had they still been there, they certainly would have been killed.

Why do things like that happen?  Why was there one tragedy and one miraculous escape? It is very human to yearn for some reasonable explanation. The guardians of the suddenly orphaned boys sued the state of CT, declaring that the transportation department should have anticipated the tragedy and protected the travelers on that beautiful tree-lined highway.

That’s what we crave – some sort of guarantee that someone will be watching out for us and always keeping us safe. We want this formula to work – if we do everything just right, follow the rules, and mind our own business, our lives will follow a neat, predictable path.

The problem is – life isn’t that neat and tidy. Bad things happen in our imperfect world, often without any good reason. As much as I love my sister-in-law, I don’t believe she is a better person or somehow more deserving than the parents of these young children.  Sometimes people are in the wrong place at the wrong time through no fault of their own.  Just ask families mourning in Belgium, Afghanistan or India.

Sometimes people cause bad things to happen. Sometimes bad things just happen.   God does not guarantee a safe passage through life. Instead, God promises presence – the assurance that in green pastures as well as in dark valleys, God will offer strength, guidance, and compassion.

Life can be frightening. We can make it better by reminding people we don’t have to go through it alone.

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