LENT 2011: A POSTLUDE

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
 to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
(St. Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)

O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee

O Master, let me walk with Thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
In closer, dearer company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broadening way;
In peace that only thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master, let me live.

(Washington Gladden 1879 – Presbyterian Hymnal 357)

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 24

“… they came to the tomb bringing spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of Jesus.” (Luke 24:1-3)

They knew that their work was not done. The women who had followed Jesus for almost three years knew that their work was not done even though he was now dead. Jesus had been crucified by the Roman authorities and buried in a borrowed tomb. Because of the manner and speed of his death Jesus’ body had not been properly anointed. So as soon as the Sabbath was over, the women went to the tomb in order to give Jesus’ corpse the preparations it so richly deserved.

However, as Luke tells the story they did not find the body. The tomb was empty. We can only imagine what went through their minds. Who stole it? Who defamed their Lord? What were they to do now? Whom would they tell? But as quickly as those thoughts entered their minds they were startled by two men in white who asked them, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead?”

Such a statement was absurd. This is a tomb. This is where dead people are laid. Jesus is dead. They are looking in the right place. But the words that followed told them they were not in the right place. “He is not here. He is risen.” Those words were not expected even though Jesus had told his followers to look for him on the third day. Those words were not expected because the resurrection was something for the end of time, not for today. Yet, the body was gone. The men in white were there. Something was up...and it was Jesus.

What these women would soon discover was that even though Jesus was raised, their work was still not over. They had to go and tell the disciples. They had to go with the disciples to Galilee. They had to go and tell the world that God had broken the power of sin and death. They had to proclaim that God’s kingdom was unfolding in the world.

Our work is not over either. Easter is not merely a recollection of a past event. It is a reminder of future work. Just as the women had to go and proclaim God’s love and grace to the world, so too do we. So as this Easter passes remember, not only is Christ risen from the dead...but we are called to let people know that this is good news now and always.

John Judson

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

“Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Revelation 3:19-20)

Open the Door

Somebody's knocking at your door;
Somebody's knocking at your door;
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knocking at your door.

Perhaps you’re familiar with this old African-American spiritual. Maybe you sang it at youth meetings or at Camp Skyline around a campfire. Even though we have grown more cautious about opening the door to strangers who come to our homes, we know this song refers to Jesus knocking on our doors, asking to come into our hearts. Revelation says He wants to eat with us, fellowship with us. None of us would turn Him away!

Or would we? We may say we want Jesus in our hearts, but do we really want Him directing our lives? Do we want to share his heavy burden? Bear a yoke that is hard? Will we really examine our hearts and be honest about facing our own shortcomings? Are we willing to stand up for what is right? Can we welcome folks who “aren’t like us”? Are we willing to admit our prejudices? Can we stop “playing God” by judging others? Are we willing to support causes we know are just and right with our time as well as our money?

What is it that God requires of us? “To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) First we have to open that door. What a feast awaits us!

Prayer: Dear God, help me to open the door that lets in your love, your truth, your way. Amen.

Diane Falconer

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 22

“He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5)

This passage is the last of the so-called servant songs from the book of Isaiah. Christians identify the “suffering servant” with Jesus, but Isaiah is most likely referring to exiled Israel suffering Babylonian captivity. In both cases, what appears to be rejected (53:3) is redeemed. In fact, what appears to be “struck down by God” becomes a sign of God’s faithfulness. A significant fact is the consciousness on the part of Israel and Jesus of their complete dependence on God.

Pain and suffering come with existence in this world. Confidence in God’s presence in the midst of pain and suffering is a gift of grace, affirming that God’s love claims us and makes us whole even when we are “despised and rejected.” Ours is a world in which love and the banality of evil are in constant conflict. Jesus’ death on the cross reminds us that God does not intervene supernaturally to prevent suffering, but human suffering is never the last word. God’s love remains a “light to all nations” (49:6) drawing us into God until God is all in all. Like the “good thief” hanging next to Jesus on the cross, we can trust that we remain with Christ in suffering and in death.

I think of a six-year-old boy named Jimmy whom I knew 40 years ago. When a priest offered him a communion wafer so that he could have Jesus Christ inside him, he replied, “I already have Jesus inside me.” Jimmy died shortly thereafter. Jimmy understood God's presence in the midst of suffering and death.

Prayer: God of grace, in the cross of Jesus we find the epitome of divine compassion. Help us to have child-like trust in your deep and abiding love even as we experience evil, suffering, and death. Amen.

Ernest Krug

MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 21

“And Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone who hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me.’” (John 12:44-50)

I think the words in this scripture tells me God’s plan that he presents through his son, Jesus. Jesus is God’s advocate and God’s hopes for humanity are presented through Jesus to us. As Jesus indicates, we are not always listening to God's word, and Jesus will not judge us, but there will be judgment. We all need guidelines to live as decent human beings, and our faith presents the guidelines to live in the light of our saviour, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven: Help us to keep the words and deeds that you instructed our Lord Jesus to teach us: To be good people ... kind, honest, caring for others, and peaceful, especially now when we have become so self-centered and self-righteous. We need your help to do so. Amen.

Barbara Buchanan

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

In the Old Testament, the Prophets were God’s light, His spokespeople for letting the world know specifically how to relate to Him. In the New Testament, Jesus lived out the actual reconciliation between God and man when He died for our sin and rose again in victory. At Jesus’ ascension, He is clear that with the Holy Spirit’s power within all of us (not just a few – as was the case with the Old Testament prophets), it is now our responsibility to be God’s spokespeople. As Jesus is the Light of the world, our lives must reflect that light, pointing the way to Him.

We all have our own little corner on this planet – a circle of family and friends, colleagues and a community in which we live. I don’t live in your corner, so it is up to you to be God’s light to the lives you touch. The same is true for me, as I try to reflect God’s light in my “corner” of Michigan.

There are lots of ways that light illumines our world. Maybe you will see yourself as one of these lights – or all of them, at one time or another. Candlelight - that warm glow of friendship. A flashlight - a small beam of light along a narrow path. Headlights - that find clear passage on a dark road. A light house - guiding ships home from a stormy sea. Starlight - that cheers a lonely soul. Sunshine - that floods the day with goodwill. Or Moonshine - that lets us see at night.

Think of the moon, it is a dead piece of rock, with no energy source of its own. When it is in the right position, it reflects the sun’s light so brilliantly that it can light up a dark sky. Our lives are like that, dead without God’s love. But when we are focused on God, His love fills our lives so that we become His reflection, lighting up all those dark little corners in the world.

Prayer: Let my light shine to wipe out the darkness in the world. Amen.

Deborah Blair

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5)

Rejoicing Spirits, a worship service that celebrates the gifts of all people is a new addition to our Saturday services this year. We call this a “no-shush” service because all who attend are encouraged to worship freely and without concern about making “noise.” It has been a blessing to be a part of this service as we make joyful noises with drums, chimes, piano, tambourines, and our voices, and together rejoice in the Lord through song, story, and signing. Fellowship before and after the service allows time for networking and building friendships.

While Rejoicing Spirits is the name of one of our services, it is also a reflection of our life together as a faith community, the Body of Christ. As we rejoice with one another in the celebration of communion, celebrate the births and baptisms of twins and others, welcome the children by planting seeds of faith through education, and mourn the loss of friends and family who have gone before us, we continue to grow and reach out beyond our doors confident that the Lord indeed is near and our spirits are knit together to form the church community we know as FPC Birmingham.

As we walk together through this season of Lent, may we let our gentleness be known to everyone and continue to rejoice in the Lord always.

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, we give you thanks for this community of rejoicing spirits. Make us ever mindful of those who feel on the fringes, and help us to reach out and enfold them in the embrace of this community. Amen.

Cindy Merten

MONDAY, APRIL 18

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:14-15)

Here are some more answers from the children of the PW Mom’s Circle when asked, “If you could talk to God what would you say or ask?

Logan DeVos (age 4) – Dear God, thank you for making the sky so bright, the sun, and all the food for me. God, what do you look like?

Emerson DeVos (age 5) – Dear God, if I could ask you something it would be why don’t our bodies go to heaven? And would you make the world so nice with lots of weather, like sunshine, all the time – I would be happy. I love you.

Colton DeVos (age 8) – Dear God, I have a few things to ask you. Why does the world have to be at war? Why can’t it be at peace? I would love to see you in person – why can’t I now? Thank you for my wonderful family.

Abby Hammond (age 1 ½) – I like to col col (color).

Ethan Hammond (age 3) – I like to eat more food.

Quinn Elise Hock (age 2) – I would give Baby Jesus a gift and I would wrap it up and I would say here you go Jesus, here you go Jesus. Jesus would open it and say, “I love you, Quinnie.”

Cullen Lee Hock (age 4) – Excuse me, I need to tell you something. I love you so much! I’m good at stuff but Dad is even better!

Gabrielle Mary Hock (age 5) – How are you doing? How did you make the whole world? Did you make Grandma and Grandpa? Are you doing well? Is your father in good shape? I love you!

Prayer: Loving hearts that gladly meet you, willing hands upraised to greet you, ears and eyes and lips we bring, Jesus, as we softly sing. “Father, we thank you: Father in heaven, we thank you.” Amen.

PW Mom’s Circle

PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 17

“For everything there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

The seasons of the church year take in aspects of Jesus’ life – Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord, Lent, Eastertide – and the life of the church – Pentecost, Ordinary Time, Trinity Sunday.

Advent writing is easy: it fits in with new beginnings, it is close to the new year when many make resolutions related to self-improvement, and it falls right after Thanksgiving, a time when we recount the good events of the current year.

Writing about Lent and Easter is a little more difficult. My mind wanders. However, this year we have a new perspective. We’re in a new climate and a new city, and we spend lots of time at home taking care of my mother with help from a hospice agency. We often sit at the bay window in the breakfast room, looking north and seeing birds and plants and the neighbors’ trees that shade our yard. Our world is small.

As I write, gray-green female cardinals fluff their feathers outside the window. Their accompanying males, vivid red, almost fluorescent, stay farther away in a tree and on the fence. Cardinals replaced the tiny ruby-throated hummingbirds we gazed at as they flitted from tree to feeder to another tree in early autumn. None of them are aware of what takes place inside our house. For everything there is a season.

From my mother’s sick room, I see the bulging buds of the Bradford pear tree and a 6-inch shoot from the corm of an iris plant. The signs of nature reviving from the winter are side by side with the expected death of one we have loved for so long. For everything there is a season.

Contemplate the seasons in Jesus’ life. We know stories of his birth, the flight to Egypt, his youthful visit to the temple in Jerusalem, and his ministry during a few short years when he traversed the holy land telling the Good News of God’s love for humankind. The long story of the last days of his life make up a significant part of the gospels, showing us people who use power and might to combat those who lead to the Truth. Somehow, the Easter story of the risen Christ remains a profound influence on civilization. Praise God!

Prayer: God of Advent and Lent and Easter, as the seasons of our lives change, bring us ever closer to Jesus and his story for our lives. Amen.

Marilyn Donnelly

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

“My Father never stops working, and so I keep working, too.” (John 5:17)

In my most recent reading, “The Last Lecture,” Randy Pausch, who was a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon, encouraged his students, friends, and family to realize why people should always try to achieve their childhood dreams. He said, “Give yourself permission to dream. Fuel your kids’ dreams, too.”

We were privileged to hear one of his last speeches at our grandson’s graduation ceremonies in 2008. Randy Pausch was considered by many to be a master teacher. He gave his “Last Lecture” knowing that his terminal cancer would soon take his life. He did not talk about dying, but gave everyone one last lecture on overcoming obstacles, enabling dreams, and living for every moment. Randy Pausch died several months later.

Two things in the book struck me. Randy Pausch said:

Don’t Complain, Just Work Harder

Too many people go through life complaining about their problems. I’ve always believed that if you took one-tenth the energy you put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, you’d be surprised by how well things can work out.

The author of the book said we should:

Look for the Best in Everyone

This is beautiful advice that I got once from Jon Snobby, my hero at Disney Imagineering. I just was so taken with the way he put it. “If you wait long enough,” he said “people will surprise and impress you.” As he saw things, when you’re frustrated with people, when they’ve made you angry, it just may be because you haven’t given them enough time. Jon warned me that sometimes this took great patience – even years. “But in the end,” he said “people will show you their good side. Almost everybody has a good side. Just keep waiting. It will come out.”

Prayer: Dear God, help us to appreciate all peoples and look for the best they have to offer. Allow us to live our dreams. Amen.

Bob Morrill

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

“… I saw a huge crowd … Everyone was there … all nations and tribes, all races and languages …” (Revelation 7:9)

I love to imagine the scenes that John described as well as his interpretations. Hope is the theme throughout Revelation, in the midst of chaos and fearful images that are often mystifying, to say the least.

Hope in the midst of the uncertain developments in life enables continuing prayer and faith that God is our guide, Jesus is merciful, and the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

These thoughts bring me strength and courage to meet each day, knowing that by the grace of God and the prayers of many, I will get through it.

Life takes many unexpected turns and one can’t help wondering “Why?” Searching for answers to that question is not very useful, and may lead to disappointment and despair.

Instead, remembering that I have come this far, for more than eighty years, and found God helping me at every turn, I know that the future holds more of the same, thanks be to God.

Prayer: Loving and merciful God, may your presence in our lives keep us always hopeful, loving, kind, and generous. Grace us with your mercy and care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ginnie Spurr

THURSDAY, APRIL 14

“Then the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ … Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”’” (Matthew 4 3-10)

“Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Yuch!!!

Since Matthew is the lectionary gospel for this year, we almost certainly will be hearing his version of the temptation story of Jesus. When I think about this story, I want Jesus to spend lots of time looking at the temptations offered him, weighing pros and cons, and then doing the right thing. But, as I’ve paid more attention to the story, I’ve decided that Jesus just doesn’t do that – Jesus turns them down flat.

This is a little hard for me to really get, but it says a lot about his family and community and how he was raised. Jesus was not dealing with temptation as something to be regretfully avoided but something to be fled from.

Can you imagine a kid saying, “Why would I want candy when I can have vegetables.” Hard, but possible – yes? I know that a kid could feel that way if he or she were properly trained that way, if they really experienced their home and community to be totally saturated with those values, so maybe it isn’t that strange after all.

Maybe God is counting on our communities to train kids to be like Jesus, not dealing with temptations as something they are denied but something to be fled from. Of course, that means that we have to set that example.

Prayer: God, may we be the community where your children learn to be saturated in you. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Marcie B. Chaney

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

“Remember your creator in the days of your youth before the days of trouble come.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

Trust and faith are such a big part of life, and they are an on-going life lesson as I was reminded by a 22 month year old Grandnephew.

One day not so long ago, on her way to visit her in-laws, my niece decided to stop at her folks and check on their house. With her were her husband and their 22 months old son Sammy. Sammy knows the home of Grandpa and Grandma as the place of hugs and kisses.

Because car seats are such a hassle, when they arrived he was told he was going to stay in his seat and would not be going in, Grandpa and Grandma were not there. Sammy, ready for his hugs and kisses, protested vehemently and was not having any of this after at all! Grandpa and Grandma were always there when Sammy came to visit! Sammy was not let out of his seat.

After visiting the in-laws, on the way home it was naptime so they decided to stop at her folks home again where there was a bed already set for Sammy. This time Sammy was ready, he shot out of his seat on the run through the open door calling for Grandpa and Grandma, ready for hugs and kisses. Needless to say they did not stay and Sammy did not nap.

For me, every day I awake and know He is there, I go to church and know He is there!

Everyday is Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter all rolled into one and for the rest of our lives!

He is the Lord of the Dance.

Faith and Trust!

Prayer: Please Lord lead me to live in You as You live in me wherever I may be. Amen.

Jean Woodworth

TUESDAY, APRIL 12

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, NIV)

The English translation of the first part of this verse is different in nearly all of the Bibles that I have checked; the key word in Greek seems to be “ainigmati” which means “obscureness,” and has been translated darkly, dimly, baffling, puzzling, indistinctly, imperfectly, cloudy, like a riddle. The next part, “face to face,” is nearly the same in every Bible. This verse seems to me to mean that we don’t fully understand the meaning of everything in this part of our journey but that we shall know fully in eternity.

Elsewhere in this Lenten Booklet are questions that children of the PW Mom’s Circle would ask if they could talk with God. I believe that adults also have questions they would ask. One is. “Why are there always wars and why are there always poor?” (Define wars and poor.)

Another question is, “Do we really have free will, or do we just think we have free will?” Shakespeare’s Jaques says, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” (As You Like It, 2.7.139-140), but Descartes says, “The will is by its nature so free that it can never be constrained.” (Passions of the Soul, I, art. 41)

I’m sure there are many other unanswered questions, the most common possibly being, “Why?” But in the end we will know the answers. In the meantime, we have to have faith that “all things work together for good for those who love God.” (Romans 8:28)

Prayer: Loving God, whoever you are and wherever you may be, we thank you for being with us as we walk on this journey. Thank you for the many blessings you have given us like family, friends, and the beauty and bounty of nature. Praise and glory to you forever. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Irv Poston

MONDAY, APRIL 11

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

“Problems we face cannot be solved if we are at the same

place we were when we created them.” (A. Einstein)

I saw it as I sat in the car waiting for the traffic light to change. There it was in the store window in huge letters – “TRADE IN YOUR OLD TREADMILL.” What an absolutely terrific idea said I as I hurried to my next meeting. Indeed there are times when I can identify with the treadmill – often feeling that my life is being lived on the treadmill of my mind and weekly planner! Working hard but not really Moving.

The journey of life is indeed that – a journey or passage from one place or time or thought to another. Treadmills had no place in the life changing movements such as the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Civil Rights Movement as their people marched toward understanding, action and justice.

Our journey through these forty days of Lent invites us to trade in our old treadmills and move toward repentance and renewal. Repentance implies movement – the turning away from evil and movement towards what is good. As we walk the road to Jerusalem we have the opportunity to look inward and recognize attitudes and behaviors that separate us from God and to focus on the new life God has called us to live. When Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found it empty, they did not stay there but rather they ran to bring the good news to the disciples. May we, too, run on Easter Morning and share the good news of God’s gift of new life in Christ. In the words of the old Quaker saying – “Pray, and move thy feet.”

Prayer: Loving and gracious God, may your word always be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path as we seek to know your will – what is good and acceptable and perfect. Amen.

Glen Tyndall

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

“And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

“Will you go to church with me?” was Ginnie’s response to my marriage proposal. While I was no stranger to church, I couldn’t have dreamed what direction that simple question would take me (us). That question resulted in a growth and dedication to make church the center of our lives, and once one does that, life will never be the same as we might have guessed it would be. It’s a sneaky process. Being introduced to a large number of people resulted in our phone ringing from our new acquaintances. There is always something happening at church,and participating in all these things tightens the bonds.

Whenever our phone rings we look at our calendar first to see what we have scheduled at church. Without a plan, we found our connection to the church growing more and more an integral part of ourselves. So many of you have been there and know first hand what I'm saying, while others have this wonderful experience before you.

Ginnie and I, through these experiences, have grown tighter in our relationship, sharing common interest. It’s a great life, and we could never have guessed nor planned a life together as satisfying as ours has been.

What has all this to do with Lent? It has to do with dedication of one’s life – no small matter, but neither a lightning bolt decision. God’s plan for us was not revealed in a blinding flash. Rather, He continued opening doors, behind which we, through faith, continued our life’s path. Only in retrospect do we see how our lives were shaped. It’s a matter of faith rather than knowing what tomorrow may bring. And speaking of faith, one of my favorite hymns (#276 – “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”) says it all. You can’t out-faith the Father.

Prayer: Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. Amen.

Bill Spurr

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

They say there are no coincidences. So, I guess finding the book Things Happen When Women Care (Barnes, Emilie, 1973) at the Rummage Sale was intended. As I was reading it I came to this diagram.

This diagram reminded me of my grandmother who was raised a Catholic, and though not especially religious, always thought of other people, and the verse at the top of the page also happened to be her favorite. In the days when most women stayed home, she taught in the Rochester, NY public schools, eventually rising to principal in the late 20’s. In the stock market crash of ’29, grandfather lost his shoe factory and could not find another job. Gram kept working and became Dean of Women. When she retired she held the highest position in the system.

She came to live with us in the 1950’s after her husband died and was a true inspiration to me. She often quoted the verse when I said I could not do something. She died in 1968. It was a cold December and I was riding the bus home from Wayne State where I was studying to be a children’s librarian. All of a sudden I stood up and cried, “Stop!” The bus lurched to a stop. I saw a phone booth and told the driver I needed to make a call. He waited. When I got back on I said, “My grandmother just passed.” Everyone stared at me. Whenever I hear that special verse, I think of Gram.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, there are no coincidences, everything happens in your time. We all need someone to lean on. Help us remember when we need strength, we can lean on you. Amen.

Maggie Garza