“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:37-39 NIV

The children of a prominent family decided to give their father a book of the family's history for a Father's Day present.  They commissioned a professional biographer to do the work, carefully warning him of the family's "black sheep" problem.  It seems Uncle George had been executed in the electric chair for murder.  

After some thought, the biographer said, "No problem. I can handle the situation so that there will be no embarrassment.  I'll merely say that Uncle George occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution.  He was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, and his death came as a real shock."

There are times in the lives of all of us when things seem to go exceptionally well. Plans work out, dreams take substance and shape, and projects fall into place. On such occasions, quite naturally, we rejoice, for it is clear to us that life is full and that there are not only satisfactions but also accomplishments which enable us to feel worthwhile.

On the other hand, there are times in the lives of all of us when everything seems to go wrong. We start off on some task with the goal clearly in sight, only to encounter obstacles which are insurmountable. We are moving along life's way, when our lives are crossed by the shadow of disaster, either personally or in the experience of those we love. Sometimes these rough places occur because of negligence or evil doing on our part; at other times they occur because of circumstances over which we have little if any control. Regardless, all of us know these times quite well as the sun goes behind the clouds, and we walk through the shadow of despair. Indeed, it is likely that for most of us these times become the most crucial of all times, and it is certain that they happen to all of us at one time or another. These are the times when we need to be reminded of God’s unfailing love for us and His promise that nothing can separate us from Him. 

Whether your current situation is one of joy or unspeakable sorrow, be assured that God is with you. He will rejoice with you in your triumphs and hold you close in your despair.

Prayer:  In your wisdom, O Lord our God, you have made all things and have allotted to each of us the days of our life. Grant that we may live in Your Presence, be guided by your Holy Spirit and offer all our works to your honor and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN (Source: The Book of Occasional Services).

Fr. Steve+