A Journey of Faith

Monday, April 15, 2013

Look for the Helpers

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." -Fred Rogers


             A tragedy happened about two hours from our home today. Just yards from the finish line at the Boston Marathon an explosion shook the ground and sent people to their knees. Two people died and over 80 were injured, some critically. Many more were forever changed in that instant, and just minutes later when a second explosion happened a few blocks away.
             I have been watching the reports with thirteen year old duckling. He just keeps saying 'oh my goodness' over and over. Part of me wants to shield my kids from such evil, letting them believe for as long as possible that the world they live in is completely safe. But that would not do them any favors. The day has to come when their innocence takes a blow and they come face to face with the reality that there is evil in the world.
             But there is good too. Immediately after the first blast people began running. Many of course were running for their lives, but many were running into the blast zone to help those injured. With no regard for whether they were running into another explosion, they went to the aid of those who needed it without hesitation. As I watched them running, intent on doing what they could to help, I thought about what GOD was thinking. Was He mourning the separation of those responsible from His plan? Was He shedding a tear over the pain that those killed and injured and their families would be feeling? Was He smiling with pride at the determination of those helpers to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world? I don't know the religious affiliations of those helpers, and it doesn't really matter. Whether they were Christians, Jews, Muslim, Atheists  or some other religion isn't important. What is important is that they were doing just what He wants us to do, reach out to those who need our help and help them.

Lord, be with those affected by the explosions in Boston today. Please hold them in Your comforting arms and let them feel Your strength. Thank You for the helpers, those who step in...run in... to help their fellow human beings without hesitation. Thank You for their bravery and compassion. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Carry On

 If you're lost and alone
Or you're sinking like a stone
Carry on
May your past be the sound
Of your feet upon the ground
Carry on


(Carry On by Fun. Lyrics from elyrics.com)

           I've been thinking a lot about this song. It's so easy to feel like you are alone in life's storms and trials. It's even easier to feel like no one 'gets it' or wants to be bothered by your troubles. And even for those whose faith is what sustains and carries them, it is easy to think that GOD is tired of listening to your troubles and is ready to give up on you. 
          For those who struggle with depression or anxiety, it's easy to fall into that pit where just the thought of taking one more step on the path of life is just to much to even contemplate. Maybe that's why I like this song... "if you're lost and alone or you're sinking like a stone Carry on." Just one more step, one more breath is all it takes. Just one more day. and one more. and one more. Because even when we think that the hope is run out, Jesus is there waiting to offer us a refill. Pastor spoke about doubt this week. Last week was Easter, and she talked about how we can count on there being something more than what we are experiencing now. This week she talked about Thomas and his doubt, and how we are so much like him. We so often doubt that our pain is anything that He would bother with. We are so sure that we have to figure things out before we can get to where He is. We fear that we are the one person that He will give up on, that He will turn His back on us because we aren't 'getting it right'. Thankfully we are wrong. Jesus will always meet us where we are... even in the midst of our doubts, or fears, or anxieties, or whatever it is that is pulling us down. He will never leave us alone. He will always be on that path with us. 
            We just have to decide to keep taking another step. And when we get to the end of our lives, our past will in fact be the sound of those steps on the ground, the 'sound' of our decisions to keep going. Even if we felt lost and alone. Even if we felt like we were sinking and drowning. 

             Carry on my friends. Carry on. The Savior is walking with you. He will never leave you, never forsake you, never ever give up on you. You were bought with a price that is far too high for Him to let you go. Let Him meet you on the road. Let Him hold you and carry you and give you His peace.