The Greatest of These is Love - October 13

Today’s Readings - Psalm 1, 2, 3; Jer. 36:11-26; 1 Cor. 13:(1-3)4-13; Matt. 10:5-15

When asked what the greatest commandment is Jesus replies,” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, . . . soul, and . . .mind, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But what does it mean to love God? God loved us first so we know what the most pristine, supremely sacrificial love looks like but how on earth could we ever return that kind of love?

Frederich Buechner in his book The Remarkable Ordinary, asks this very same question. His response is this, pay attention, love the way we might love anyone else. So, for example, think of your best friend. You take time to notice what’s happening to her. You watch, knowing that things change, life happens, and we can’t always predict what will happen next so it’s important to pay attention. And we wait, remaining present, waiting for whatever may come.

As with our best friend, with God we pay attention, we watch for all the ways God is made manifest in the world around us, for all the open windows of possibility God provides.  Paul Tillich said that the first duty of love is to listen. And so, we wait, listening for that still small voice, being mindful that God speaks to us through unfamiliar and sometimes unlikely paths. If we aren’t watching, waiting - paying attention - we may miss God. This is how we love others and how we love God - we see them with eyes of compassion, patience and sometimes curiosity. We see with the eyes of wonder and possibility, and we give thanks and glory to the ways God has showered us with God’s outpouring love.

To love God is to see God in all the wonderful and messy, perfect, gorgeous and hideous ways that creation manifests itself, surrounding us with evidence of God’s creative genius and sometimes humor. To love our neighbor is to see in each person a reflection of God, and even to see God in our own not always so attractive, loveable image; to love ourselves on the days we say hurtful things to those we love or on those days we wish we could go back to bed and start again. It means to love others even when we don’t agree, or we’re afraid of the differences the other person presents. It means looking for some “unexpected beauty, or pain or need” (F. Buechner, Secrets in the Dark, p. 99) in those we know well and maybe especially in those we rarely take time to notice.

Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth spells out what love is better than has ever been said before or since. In the end how we live out our faith, is an expression of how we love others and God and how we show gratitude for all that we have received from God. This is what really matters, to try in our imperfect way to love God and to love our neighbors, to see God’s reflection in the world and in all of those we meet. As Frederich Buechner has said, “They are all God’s peculiar treasures,” and God loves each and every one of us. No one is an exception, no one a mistake.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Reflection and Challenge – Seeing and loving all of God’s creation is an impossible task. How might we approach this so that each day we accomplish a little more than the day before?

Step Outside Yourself - October 6

Today’s Readings -  Psalm 106:1-18; 2 Kings 21:1-18; 1 Cor. 10:14-11:1; Matt. 8:-34

In a sermon a couple of weeks ago I shared a story written by Marlane Ainsworth. She describes her father as a man of few words; however, she recalls one night at dinner when he said something that she never forgot. She said he cleared his throat, put down his knife and fork and said, “It’s a good idea every now and then to step outside yourself and watch yourself walk by.” Several people commented that they had never thought about that concept. I said it seemed like a healthy exercise for us all. There’s the possibly it could increase our self-awareness which is always valuable.

 I thought about the number of times I’ve walked past a window and caught a glimpse of my reflection and was surprised and thought “do I really look like that?” What’s even more revealing however is to recall conversations or discussions and with that bird’s eye view “critique” my responses or comments. I realized that in far too many situations when I feel my opinion may not be welcome, that I hold my tongue, my silence becoming nothing more than culpability. There have also been times when I wish I had held my tongue, not having been as thoughtful or as gracious or tactful as I could have been.

 In today’s gospel Jesus is confronted by two demoniacs. When Jesus approaches, they initially demand to know what he wants from them. Why does he torment them? Jesus gives them what they ask for – he sends their demons into a herd of swine. They somehow saw who they were and asked for what they needed rather than what they initially wanted.

 What if we all were more self-aware and recognized those times we needed to step back and be more self-critical, more aware of what we need rather than always focused on what we want. It’s a perspective that gives us the ability to see our everyday behaviors and if we’re willing, to make some constructive changes. In the midst of growing divisions, heated disagreements and discussions it appears we’ve forgotten how to respect the other’s point of view. it seems this could be a much needed, welcome change. With the presence of Christ as our guide we can gain the perspective we need and hopefully we won’t need to be cast into the closest herd of swine, even though sometimes, maybe we should.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Reflection and Challenge - When was the last time you stepped outside of yourself and took an honest once over, asking Jesus for what you need rather than what you think you want?

The Porch - October 3, 2025

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 102; PM Psalm 107:1-32; 2 Kings 19:1-20; 1 Cor. 9:16-27; Matt. 8:1-17 

Sitting on the porch is one of my favorite pastimes. I remember spending time on the screened porch at my childhood home in Montgomery, perched on the wicker furniture. I could hear birds flitting about, smell the fresh rain, and take in the array of green hues – from azaleas to St. Augustine grass to the ferns in the shade garden. This morning, my son moved into that familiar rhythm as he sat on the back porch of his childhood home in Bluff Park, enjoying the cool, fall air and listening to birds. Sam joined him and activated the Merlin app to help them identify the chirping conversations going on among the feathered neighbors. Their shared time – boy, man, and birds – on the porch was a way to prepare for this day’s challenges and invitations.

We humans need to rest and take a breath. And pay attention. There is a line in the 1986 film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in which the title character Ferris says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Jesus often models the importance of balancing the exhaustion of ministry with the spiritual nurture that comes from rest and prayer. In today’s gospel (Matthew 8:1-17), he moves pretty fast. Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and upon coming down from the mountain, great crowds surround him, seeking healing and hope. Responding to the immense need, he heals a man with a skin disease, saying “I do choose. Be made clean!” Jesus heals the servant of a Roman centurion, even at a distance, for the centurion’s faith and humility are great. Then, Jesus enters Peter’s house, finding his mother-in-law afflicted with a fever. He touches her hand and the fever departs her body. She is restored to health and resumes daily tasks immediately! That evening, people bring many others weighed down by evil spirits, and Jesus cures all who are sick.

As I take a day of rest to catch my breath, I am humbled by Jesus’ stamina. I am inspired by his unwavering heart for bringing reconciliation and peace to a hurting world. The apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth, advising them about Christian living. He reminds them that proclamation of the Good News is a responsibility and an exercise in humility each day. It is not a message to serve self, but to empty oneself for God’s glory. This discipline requires us to be ready. We need rest. We need encouragement. We need the reconnection that comes through being with our loved ones and in nature. We need to receive the reassurance of God who created us and loves us, so that we can face all that is ahead for us today. We do not do this hard and holy work alone. We engage with the courage of the Holy Spirit, the grace of our Lord, and the compassion of Jesus. Join me in this endeavor…I’ll be on the porch.

With God’s help,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

How are you tending spaces of spiritual rest for yourself? If you have patterns and places already, fantastic! If not, no worries! I invite you to listen for where you are nourished, and talk to others who experience good "spiritual hygiene".

Simplicity as the Narrow Gate

Today's Readings: AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; PM Psalm 119:121-144; 2 Kings 18:9-25; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; Matt. 7:13-21

As you read this email, a group of pilgrims from Saint Stephen’s will be having their farewell dinner in Santiago and beginning a 4,000-mile journey back home. Walking the Camino de Santiago again has been an extraordinary gift for me, and honestly, it has been such a beautiful reminder of the simplicity of life. We have walked, shared, laughed, broken bread, made friends, and even played a few rounds of Mahjongg. That is not a typo.

One of the metaphors of the Camino is the simplicity of helping each other along the way. On one wooded path, a man stood playing a simple percussion instrument, much like steel drums, offering joy to all who passed by. One of our pilgrims asked if she could try, and soon Jennye was playing the mallets, filling the forest with unexpected music, delighting everyone around. That’s the way of the Camino: someone offers what they have, another joins in, and joy is multiplied. We carried one another’s packs, shared blister pads, offered encouragement on steep climbs, and reminded each other to slow down and notice the beauty around us. The Camino is not about getting ahead; it is about walking together.

Jesus once told his disciples, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13). We often assume the “narrow gate” means the harder path, the more complicated way. But maybe it is also the obvious one—the way of simplicity, of caring for each other, of sharing what we have, of helping one another along the road. We have made life too complicated. Jesus points us back to what matters most: not what we build up, but how we love and support each other on the journey.

Maybe its narrow because it is so easy to not trust each other, to make enemies out of our friends and out of our strangers, or to believe that there is not enough, that we must hoard all that we can. Maybe that is why things have gotten so out of control in our daily lives.

The Camino is a profound reminder of this truth. Day after day, you carry only what you need. You rely on the kindness of strangers, and you learn that joy comes not from possessions or accomplishments, but from the gift of walking with others. And perhaps that is the invitation for all of us—to live our daily lives as if we are on the Camino, trusting that with God’s help, and each other’s, that this journey of life and faith is something we do with our human family, a profoundly sacred journey. 

John+

Question for Self-Reflection: What burdens or complications in your daily life might you lay down so that you can walk more simply, trusting God and others along the way?

The Ultimate Cure - September 29

Today’s Readings - Psalm 89:1-18; 2 Kings 17:24-41; 1 Cor. 7:25-31; Matt. 6:25-34

The statistics on the number of people in the United States who have been diagnosed with anxiety is astounding. My mother’s anxiety, and accompanying depression  controlled her life from as early as I can remember. As a very young child I was aware that I worried more than most other children my age. Just the sound of an ambulance could send me into a tailspin.

 Dr. Edith Eger in her book The Choice describes her own personality and the issues that she has faced as a survivor of Auschwitz. She writes that as humans we all have unpleasant experiences, we all make mistakes, and we all end up being the object of circumstances beyond our control. What she realized after years of self- analysis and study was that when we experience mistakes, discomfort or tragedy, that the feelings that result signal something about our own self-worth. Unfortunately, in that vulnerable state we convince ourselves that the awful circumstances or results we end up with are all we deserve. When that could not be further from the truth.

Today’s gospel reading is one that I have almost memorized because I’ve focused on it so often. Does Jesus not know how many drug companies make their fortunes dependent on people being anxious? Of course he does. That must be why the advice “Do not fear” is repeated so many times in the Bible, more than any other adage and is the least obeyed. Anxiety is often fueled by the feeling that we’re not enough, not good enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not popular enough. The thing is even though we’re all imperfect, broken and flawed we’re just enough. Jesus still loves us as if we’re the apple of his eye. The problem seems to be that we are unable to accept this outlandish wonderful idea. We can’t seem to accept ourselves just as we are, broken, overweight, too short, too old, too thin, too tall. We’re just never going to be exactly who we think we want or need to be. In the end the goal isn’t merely to lessen our anxiety, but to better align ourselves with God as our creator, a God who makes no mistakes and ultimately to give less power to this master we call “anxiety”.  That would be the ultimate cure-all prescription.

Can you imagine being anyone more perfect than the perfect creature God created? This is where you smile and with a big sigh of relief thank God that you are exactly who you were created to be.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Challenge and Reflection - Can you change the object of your current struggle by worrying?  What constructive steps can you take? Prayer is always at the top of my list, but God empowers us to act, so make a list, an appointment with a therapist, a nutritionist, whatever reroutes your energy from worrying. Don’t let worrying steal the joy God intended for your life.

Never Gonna Give You Up – September 26, 2025

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 88; PM Psalm 91, 92; 2 Kings 9:17-37; 1 Cor. 7:1-9; Matt. 6:7-15

This week, my time in Spain has been on my mind, as my colleague John Burruss is walking the same 72-mile path along the Camino de Santiago that I took this summer. My journey was alongside 20 teenagers and 4 other adults; John is with 18 other adults. With fondness and joy during Sunday morning’s Christian formation forum, I listened to reflections from 9 youth pilgrims and one of our adult chaperones. What beautiful stories of growth and hope they shared! I cherished the rhythm of our days, as we walked and ate, laughed and prayed.

In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, Jesus advised his listeners to avoid “practicing piety before others in order to be seen by them;” and to avoid praying “at the street corners” but “go into your room and shut the door”. In truth, for 25 pilgrims to pray together, we required a space bigger than what was available in our hotels. So, we often gathered in a courtyard, park, or other outdoor venue. To Jesus’ point, we did not seek others’ attention when we prayed in public, but to find stillness and time for reflection, alone together.

One evening, as we sought a place to pray in the bustling ancient courtyards around the cathedral in Santiago, chaperone Michael McGovern suggested an open space that surely would be obliging at that late hour – as it was just getting dark around 10:30 p.m. Upon walking down the stairs, we realized that, while there was ample room for us to assemble on the temperate summer evening, there was another impediment: loud music. The outdoor café had tables full of people and a man playing guitar and singing Rick Astley’s 1987 worldwide hit, “Never Gonna Give You Up”. With its sticky tune and simple refrain, we recognized it on the spot. We chaperones began laughing, for our efforts at worship had been “rick-rolled” – a term associated with this song popping unexpectedly into another experience. A harmless prank in the internet spheres manifested in real life for us in Santiago! The lyrics of this song ring true for our pilgrimage: regardless of where we are, God is “never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you…”

Jesus taught the listeners at the Sermon on the Mount that prayer need not be ornate. Simplicity and heartfelt are hallmarks of how we can connect with the Lord. The simple words we read in Matthew 6:9-13 – known as the Lord’s Prayer – are just that. We acknowledge God’s name and ask that God’s will become our own will. We ask for enough nourishment for today. And then, we ask for forgiveness and protection. God yearns for each of us to turn our attention and intentions to the Divine – no matter the background music, setting, or hardship upon us. God knows us, and desires that we pay attention to offer our lives to the glory of the Lord.

Join me in praying today. Simply. Humbly. And with God’s help.

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

If praying is hard for you, why is that? Do you struggle with what to ask? Or wondering if the words are right? If these are concerns for you, sit with The Lord's Prayer. Rewrite those words Jesus taught, and craft them in a way that reflects your prayer to God. There is no right or wrong way to pray, when the focus is connection with our Lord.

Changing the Rules - September 24

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82; 2 Kings 6:1-23; 1 Cor. 5:9-6:8; Matt. 5:38-48

We were about ten minutes into a pretty fast-paced soccer game last Sunday. My son is a center back and he found himself in a dead sprint with a striker barreling toward his own goal. He has far exceeded any speed I could hold these days and, in a flash, trying to position himself, the striker tumbled down. Out came his first card of the season—a red card. Seventy more minutes of his team playing down a player and a suspension in the next league game were both the results. He was shaken, feeling like he let his team down, especially since he has a reputation of being a really good sport (he once knelt down years ago and tied an opposing player’s shoe, which is very much in character for him).

I love sports because they give us a healthy outlet for competition, but they also reveal something about us. Our human drive to win, to protect, to get ahead, is deeply ingrained—it’s part of our nature. Left unchecked, those instincts can lead us to lash out, to retaliate, to strike back when we feel wronged, or maybe just let the game get the best of us.  Maybe that’s what happened on Sunday. Which is why rules and referees are so important. Without them, things can spiral out of control quickly just by our human nature alone.

But in Matthew 5, Jesus calls his disciples to a different way. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer… Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” In other words, Jesus acknowledges our natural instincts—but then he points us beyond them.  He is setting new ground rules that are different than what we might expect and fundamentally change the game we are playing.  He says the Christian life is not about meeting violence with violence or insult with insult. It is about choosing a different path, one that looks foolish to the world but mirrors the heart of God.

That doesn’t mean we abandon justice or pretend that wrong doesn’t exist. But it does mean we are called to respond in ways that disrupt the cycle of retribution. We are called to live in such a way that when others see us, they see something different.  This is why I’m so troubled when a Christian response is retribution and it feels like this point may be worth underscoring today.  The lectionary readings seem especially timely. 

So much of our world runs on red cards, on rules and penalties, on “you did this, so I’ll do that.” Jesus calls us to something more. He calls us to live differently. To choose love where retaliation would be easier or to pray where anger would be natural.  We do this so that we might show grace where judgment is expected, modeling the radical love of Christ Jesus.

That, he says, is the mark of the children of God and what all of us should aspire to model. 

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  When have I let my natural instinct to retaliate or defend myself get the better of me—and what would it have looked like to respond with Christ’s way of love instead?  In what areas of my life am I still playing by “the world’s rules” of retribution and fairness, rather than by the radical grace Jesus calls us to model?

Being “Family” - September 22

Today’s Readings - Psalm 80; 2 Kings 5:1-19; 1 Cor. 4:8-21; Matt. 5:21-26

When I was in the first grade my best friend had several siblings, all close in age with a huge house and yard – great for making forts and playing pretend. They also had a station wagon with fake wood paneling on the sides. I was convinced if you had a station wagon and lots of children to fill it up, life would be grand.

Our house was very quiet in comparison. I had one sibling, a brother ten years older. Once he graduated from college, he never wanted to come home. I missed him terribly but there was something that kept him away.

My mother had four siblings. They all lived in Georgia except for one who lived in California. One Christmas we all met at my grandmother’s house in Gainesville, Georgia. I loved it. I had cousins to play with and I helped my grandmother and aunts as they cooked, listening to family stories. With the exception of a couple of funerals, I don’t think we ever got together again. My mother had a falling out with a few of them. Most of it seemed trivial to me, but it was enough for her to cut them out of her life. As I grew older our family became smaller and gradually the church was where I found my family.

Today’s gospel reading reminds me of all the times I wish my mom had been willing to reconcile her differences with her family. It also reminds me of how easy it is to be unwilling to take the first step in admitting our part in whatever is separating us from those we care about.

Our world is complicated beyond words these days, with divisions everywhere you look. God doesn’t see our world as a dichotomy of good and evil, saved and unsaved. However somehow, we’ve managed to do just that. God created all things for good, and yet somehow, we’ve created a world in which the culture encourages seeing differences first and then only allowing grace and respect for those we decide is deserving. How did it get this way? Or has it always been this way and I’ve been too naive to see it?  

I’m so grateful to have a vocation, where I am tasked to spread Jesus’ message of salvation and reconciliation, to spend time striving to find ways to bring people together rather than apart. But what about those people who can’t see past the divisions? In today’s gospel reading Jesus doesn’t say wait until your accuser comes to you, he says, “if you remember that your brother or sister* has something against you, . . first be reconciled to your brother or sister, . . .* Jesus puts the responsibility back on us to make peace, to end divisions – even when someone has something against us rather than the other way around.

How do we address something so huge, so out of control? It requires God’s help. Mary Bea shared a quote with some of us from Northminster Baptist church in Jackson, Ms., that I’d like to share with you:

"We agree to differ. We resolve to love. We unite to serve. If we cannot agree to differ, we have no freedom. If we do not resolve to love, we have no Christianity. If we do not unite to serve, the kingdom of God and the world will suffer.”

 Pray that God enlightens us to embrace these sentiments. Let’s find a way to be ‘family.’”

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection – What is the worst thing that could happen if you approached someone who looks at the world differently from you and ask, “Can we talk? I’d like to understand your point of view.” To quote John Burrus, “Respecting the dignity of every human being must also include how we value and listen to those with whom we disagree.”

Speak slowly - September 19, 2025

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 69:1-23(24-30)31-38; PM Psalm 73; 2 Kings 1:2-17; 1 Cor. 3:16-23; Matt. 5:11-16

I celebrated Eucharist at a local retirement community recently and one of the residents stopped me before the service and offered me guidance – speak slowly. Her request bubbles up for me this morning. So, I am sitting here with the gospel message and ruminating on what it means to speak slowly.

When we speak slowly, there are several assumptions at play that come to my mind:

·        we have something meaningful to say;

·        someone wants to hear the message – and understand it;

·        no one will speak over us while we are still talking.

When Jesus went up the mountain, as we read in Matthew 5, he sat down. His students and followers surrounded him, and he began to speak what we know as the beatitudes. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy,” and others. (Matthew 5:1-10) Jesus was teaching his friends and offering encouragement. He was equipping these normal people to do extraordinary things in ordinary exchanges of this world.

To deliver this message of the blessedness that can come from living in a space of vulnerability, I imagine Jesus speaking slowly and deliberately. I hear a measured tone. I wonder who he looked at in the crowd. I wonder if, as he worked his way down the nine statements of blessedness, tears began rolling down his cheeks when he spoke of those who would be persecuted for righteousness’ sake. I imagine that God’s love emanated from him as he shared these words.

Let’s remember, Jesus was not advising people in the highest seats of power and affluence. He dwelled among the average people. He offered a message of divine inclusion to those often excluded. The gospel appointed for today begins there: “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12) The disdain and criticism of this world that seeks to break down and isolate people is nothing but dross; Jesus reminds his listeners of heavenly promise to come, though the brokenness of present is great. He reminds them of their progenitors, the prophets, who also endured hardship as they offered words of truth to a people scattered and absorbed in idolatry. Those who did this hard and holy work are not called for their own personal growth or glory, but to the glory of God – so that all may know that God is the Lord.

To get the message of hope across, Jesus speaks slowly. Rebuilding takes time when we are lost and broken. Jesus tells his disciples and listeners that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The richness of connection among people is there upon that mountain – with people sitting together, learning, and being in harmony. Hearts and minds open for inspiration.

Before you read the news or go out into the world today, hold fast to this Good News, spoken slowly for you to hear and absorb: know you are blessed when you are vulnerable, for God is not yet finished with you. Look for the blessedness in others, exhibiting empathy and showing mercy. Live as people who Jesus sees as salt and light. Receive his words of encouragement this day: “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

With God’s help,

Katherine+

Repentance as the Beginning of Discipleship - September 17

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96; 1 Kings 22:1-28; 1 Cor. 2:1-13; Matt. 4:18-25

I’ll be honest—I’m having trouble making sense of the world right now. The violence, the disregard for human life, the relentless stream of brokenness in the news—none of it makes sense. And this isn’t the reflection where I’m going to explain it all.

In fact, I stumbled into today’s Gospel reading almost by accident. I clicked on the wrong link and ended up reading yesterday’s passage first, where at the end, Jesus proclaims, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). Today’s reading begins immediately after that moment, with Jesus calling ordinary people—fishermen—to be his disciples (Matthew 4:18–22).  Maybe we need to include the readings for the days we skip so that you can get a fuller picture.

The two are inseparable. Repentance and discipleship always go hand in hand. Repentance isn’t about shame or guilt, but about turning, reorienting, examining ourselves honestly so that we might see the world, and ourselves, through Christ’s eyes. And discipleship isn’t about building some huge following.  I mean, Jesus called people with nets and boats, people worked and lived rather ordinary lives to be the ones who could share his vision for life.

That’s still the call today. I sure would love to blame others for the mess we are in.  And discipleship begins with repentance.  I know that I have been quick to judge, slow to forgive, and used my words in ways that didn’t build up the body of Christ.  Surprise, surprise.  I still have work to do.  I’m guessing I’m not alone in that.

When we stop, repent, and practice humility, Jesus takes ordinary people like you and me and invites us to follow. We may not be able to make sense of all the chaos around us, but we can take the next faithful step. Repent. Follow. Trust that God will use ordinary people to heal the world.  We need it more than ever, and maybe it begins with you and me and some real honest self-examination.

John+

 Questions for Self-Examination: “Where in my own life do I need to pause, repent, and reorient so that I can follow Jesus more faithfully in the ordinary, everyday places?”

The Ultimate Paradox - September 15

Today’s Readings - Holy Cross Day Psalm 66; Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:11-17

Holy Cross day is not one of those days that in my experience many churches celebrate. I was made aware of it many years ago when I was contacted about a banner, I created for the Mississippi ECW delegation who attended General Convention. A priest had seen the banner and reached out to ask if he could include a photograph of it in a book he was writing about Holy Cross Day - the banner prominently featured a cross.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was dedicated on the 14th of September 335, is thought to be built over the sites of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Thus, September 14th “has become a day for recognizing the Cross as a symbol of triumph, as a sign of Christ's victory over death, and a reminder of His promise. "

This year at Saint Stephen’s Holy Cross Day fell on the day on which we recognize those in recovery from addiction or struggling to achieve a state of recovery. Our Recovery Sunday liturgy focuses on the grace of acceptance and forgiveness that is often denied those dealing with addictions. What better symbol when considering the grace of forgiveness and the hope of salvation than the cross? After Constantine legalized Christianity in the 4th century the cross became an outward symbol of not only Jesus’ sacrifice but also of the mystery of the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness of our sins.

Today when you enter our home, you are greeted by a whole wall of crosses, each one given to me, or bought marking a special occasion. Each of my children had one hanging over their bedroom door as a reminder of the blessing of Jesus’ love for each of them. The cross represents to me Jesus’ sacrifice but also the joy that comes with Jesus’ gift of love and forgiveness.

Today’s gospel speaks of the outpouring of love God has for us and the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made as an acknowledgment of God’s grace and forgiveness rather than condemnation for the sins of the world. These are the very same messages that those who need forgiveness and acceptance the most find so difficult to embrace.

The cross is a sacred and holy reminder that Jesus feels our pain, our grief, and our humiliation. It is also a reminder that when Jesus tells his followers, "take up your cross and follow me," that to take up his cross, there is a cost - they must deny themselves and be willing to suffer or even give up their lives for his sake. 

The cross is the ultimate paradox – it is at the same time both a symbol of the worst that humanity can do and the most incredible, ridiculously generous, amazing gift anyone could ever offer or receive. Open your heart and breathe in the gitf of a lifetime!

 faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection and Challenge - What is it that the cross represents for you? Do you ever think about the cross in terms of the responsibility it brings to those who carry it? How does your life reflect your response to Jesus’s commandment to take up his cross and follow him?

Spiritually Starving

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51; 1 Kings 18:20-40; Phil. 3:1-16; Matt. 3:1-12

The other day, I came home after an active day and grabbed a handful of peanut butter pretzels. I had not eaten much that day but did not notice I was hungry. There was so much else going on that food was not on my mind. Once a few of those savory pretzels registered with my brain and I slowed down enough to pay attention to my body, I realized I was really hungry. I simply had filled the moments and hours with other things - leaving my system yearning for nourishment. Starvation due to busyness and distraction. Can you relate to such an experience?

I heard a story this week that opened my eyes to this idea of starving through distraction. This man in his 40s is going through a hard time. The kind of hard time that defines the trajectory of one's life. You see, his dad's cancer has worsened and is now under the care of hospice. Time is short. He is heartbroken and not ready to say goodbye to his dad, or ready to walk with his kids through grief. Church is not always a place he gravitates toward...he's not opposed to attending, but it has not been a priority. Work and golf have been his outlets for connection up until now. Prayer is not in his weekly routine.

And then, someone sends a few specific prayers to him so that he can pray at his dad's bedside, and pray for himself and his family. Like a cactus that blooms when rain waters the desert sands, the man opens up. The prayers invite him to feel and connect with God in a way that surprises him. The man has not realized that he has been spiritually starving. The prayers bring him some solace and courage as he sits with his dad.

Maybe this story resonates with you - and where you find yourself today. If it is hard to find the words to say with God, or you are out of the habit of praying, the Book of Common Prayer has a whole section beginning on page 814. Another prayer - suitable for the tumultuous times in Holy Scripture we read today, or the chaos in the world about us in 2025 - is called "In the Morning". Take a moment to sit with these words and ask God to prepare you for whatever is ahead:

This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge 

What is a distraction keeping you from being open and available to God? Take a few minutes to sit still and wonder. Write down what feels like a roadblock. Name that space of resistance in prayer to God. Give thanks for the space of honesty and safety that comes in prayer with our Lord.

Seeking God - September 8

Today’s Readings -  Psalm 41, 52; 1 Kings 13:1-10; Phil. 1:1-11; Mark 15:40-47

In Today’s Epistle to the Philippians, Paul prays for the people of Phillipi.  In Ephesians in the chapter just prior to this one he speaks with a sense of urgency to the people of Ephesus on the importance of prayer, but do we really know or understand prayer?

Prayer is one of those intangible mysterious yet vital parts of our spiritual lives. There are over 650 prayers in the Bible and 25 different instances of Jesus praying. The number of times the word “pray” or variations appear varies depending on the translation. For example, the word ‘pray” appears 547 times in the King James Version and 322 times in the English Standard Version. You get the idea – prayer is a very important part of our biblical heritage.

But what is prayer? There’s not one right answer. Prayer can be extremely personal with multiple methods and types of prayer; however, what’s ultimately most important is that we do it. That we take time each day in some way to have a conversation with God, reaching out to someone who has already reached out to us in love. And that’s really all prayer is - sacred time spent in conversation with God, listening hopefully more than speaking. God places within us the desire to be in relationship. God initiates the invitation, inviting us to reach out to share our deepest thoughts and feelings. It’s on us to respond.

In a memoir I’m reading, The Choice, Dr. Edith Eva Eger takes her readers through a painfully detailed account of her time as a prisoner in Auschwitz during WWII. After she and her sister are rescued by the Americans and she begins to recover from her injuries, she recounts her prayers during their imprisonment and after. She notes the loss of faith in God by others who felt abandoned by God. They could not fathom a God who would allow the Germans to kill and torture thousands of people with such brutal disregard for human life.

The author states that she never thought of what happened as a result of God’s absence or disregard for their lives but rather she felt God’s presence in the tiny moments of comfort and in the way they found the briefest relief from their torture. She chose to believe in a God who would not have granted her survival while allowing the horrific deaths she witnessed.

Herein lies the problem with prayer. What are our expectations? Do we think if we pray hard enough or if we’re deserving, we’ll be granted our request? And if our prayers aren’t answered, is it perhaps because we haven’t prayed hard enough, or lived faithfully enough? When we read that Jesus encourages others to pray, it was so that they might ultimately grow in their faith and dependence on God, so that they might achieve a closer union with God not so they can manipulate or change God’s mind.

Prayer connects us to God by acting as a sacred conversation allowing us to share our deepest thoughts, fears, and desires while also receiving God’s guidance and peace, creating a deeper relationship over time. Through prayer, we express gratitude, concern for others, our love for God while we align our hopes with God’s will and receive comfort.

Paul encourages the church of Phillipi to focus on their prayer life, all the while knowing that for them as for most of us the act of praying will remain a mystery. However, Jesus assures us that our prayers matter, mystery or not, so we pray.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Challenge and Reflection - Take time today to consider renewing or possibly beginning for the first time a dedicated time each day to pray. Trust that God hears your prayers. Remember, Jesus teaches that if we seek God we will find and be found by God. Saint Stephen’s has a variety of resources for developing a prayer life and our clergy are available to help you find what you need.  

Can our divisions cease? - September 5, 2025

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 31; PM Psalm 35; 1 Kings 11:26-43; James 4:13-5:6; Mark 15:22-32

The scriptures from 1 Kings and Mark have a thread in common today. They both include stories of torn clothing that is divided – and remind me of the divisions among us.

In Mark 15, we pick up in the crescendo of Jesus’ final moments with a story that is sad and familiar. Jesus is taken to Golgotha, crucified, and the soldiers divide his clothes, gambling for who will get which piece. They play this game, diverting their attention from the gravity of public execution and dehumanizing the one who God sent to save humanity from sin.

In 1 Kings, we read a less familiar story of Jeroboam, a servant of King Solomon. King Solomon was known for his great wisdom; however, he strayed in faithfulness to God. He “loved many foreign women” from Moab, Edom, Sidonia, and other lands. He sacrificed to other gods and built shrines in honor of them. The Lord was angry with Solomon and warned that adversaries would be raised up because of the king’s divided loyalties. The lowly Jeroboam was approached by the prophet Ahijah one day. Ahijah tore a new cloak into twelve pieces – and told Jeroboam a message from God: “I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes. One tribe will remain his, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem…” Word got out to King Solomon and Jeroboam fled to Egypt until Solomon’s death. Jeroboam fought and became the first king of the Northern Kingdom (Israel), while Solomon’s son Rehoboam was king of the Southern Kingdom (Judah). The division of the fabric of Israel’s tribes was painful, and it helped define the stories of God’s people through time. This scripture is a reminder that even today the Holy Land is a space of division and discord.

The divisions among us – in land, in loyalties, in faith, in relationships – are not new. “Can’t we all get along?” was the plea Rodney King cried during the Los Angeles riots in the 1990s. I am not certain if all divisions will cease in this age. It is part of our human condition to stumble into or seek out separation. I am reminded to lift my eyes, voice, and life to God. Join me in praying today for harmony in the spaces of division that surround us. I offer for you the prayer For the Human Family within the Book of Common Prayer on page 815:

“O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Always with God’s help,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

Reflect on where you see divisions in your sphere of existence. Who are the players? What are the themes at the center of tension? Journal about what your role is, and what is yours to do today.

Pray for the spaces of tension and division that are apparent to you, and ask God to equip you as needed to speak and act in love for harmony.

Costly Grace - Costly Words

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 38; PM Psalm 119:25-48; 1 Kings 9:24-10:13; James 3:1-12;  Mark 15:1-11

It’s September, which means my weekly reading class is beginning again—a rhythm that always offers me food for thought and often gives shape to my own practice of self-reflection. This month we are reading The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Written in the midst of Nazi Germany, the book is an exploration of what faith demands from our life. At its very beginning, Bonhoeffer draws a sharp contrast between “cheap grace” and “costly grace.”

Cheap grace, he says, is forgiveness without repentance, baptism without discipline, communion without confession. It is grace as an idea, a cover for our own complacency, a way of saying “God forgives” without changing anything in our lives. Costly grace, on the other hand, is grace that demands something of us. It is freely given, yes, but it calls us to repentance, to amendment of life, to discipleship that costs us comfort and control.

I’ve been thinking about this in light of my sermon two weeks ago on the bent-over woman in Luke’s Gospel. Grace lifted her up after eighteen years of suffering. Grace liberated her, and we are called to extend that same liberating grace to others. I still believe that to be true, but Bonhoeffer reminds me: grace is not only gift, it is also calling the demands our life be liberated from complacency. It requires something of us—our honesty, our repentance, our willingness to change.

That brings me to James today. James writes about the power of words, reminding us that the tongue is small but mighty, capable of blessing or cursing, of setting the whole forest aflame. What Bonhoeffer calls “cheap grace” often comes through cheap words, words of easy forgiveness, shallow promises, or careless speech that cost us nothing. But “costly grace” shows itself in costly words, words that heal, words of apology, words of truth spoken in love, words that sometimes demand our humility or our courage.

If grace lifts us up, then our words are often the way God chooses to carry that grace to others. The challenge is that it costs something to speak words of blessing rather than words of destruction. It costs us something to speak truth in love instead of shallow comfort from our own complacency.  It costs us patience, humility, and attention. Yet James insists, these small words carry enormous power. 

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  How does the reflection of cheap vs. costly grace resonate with your own faith journey? 

The Way the World Could Be - September 1

Today’s Readings - Psalm 25; 2 Chron. 6:32-7:7; James 2:1-13; Mark 14:53-65

This past weekend Saint Stephens. Holy Apostle’s, Hoover and Christ Church, Tuscaloosa came together for a combined parish retreat at Camp McDowell. One last hoorah to commiserate the end of summer. Some of my favorite time at camp includes porch sitting, telling stories, and getting to know people I might not ever have gotten to know in any other setting. We laughed until my sides hurt, and we debated the merits of pranks that while hilarious may be at the other person’s expense. I was definitely in the minority. In this debate. You’d think after over 30 years of my husband’s pranks I would have learned to appreciate them or at least found a way to get even but he always outdoes me.

My other favorite time at camp is the pasture party. On the last night we all gather in the softball field, unfold our chairs, spread blankets and enjoy conversation as we watch the pickup games begin, discuss the merits of our favorite football team, watch the children chasing fireflies, while balancing a plate loaded with a camp burger or hotdog, chips and all the sides.

On Sunday morning we gathered in St. Francis Chapel for Eucharist. In John’s homily he highlighted the pick-up kick ball game from the night before. Players ranged in age from 5 to 50 and all took a turn at kicking the ball, running the bases and scoring, no matter how talented, or not they each were given the space to have fun with abandon – no judgement if the ball went two feet or fifty.

The message from today’s epistle is similar to that of the one from yesterday’s gospel. Of all the honors and riches, we can possess that of love for one another, respect for all and humility rank the greatest of all. The value of allowing one another to have space enough to be themselves, to feel welcome and comfortable just as they are can never be underestimated. To demonstrate genuine humility, to allow time and space for those who may be different, who may not possess the stature or economic status, the intellect or advantages that we have been granted. We find real treasure when we see these traits, not seeking the better seat at the table or rubbing elbows with the ones with fine clothes or wealth.

As I stood behind the altar Sunday morning, sharing the space with fellow clergy and looking out at the many faces I love, I was reminded of all the reasons I love Camp McDowell, of special people I’ve met and the memories I will always cherish. I was filled to overflowing with gratitude. It was hard to imagine a space or time that could be more perfect than those precious moments that morning.

Bishop Kee once said that Special Session is the way he anticipates heaven will be – a place where all are respected, loved and can be comfortable just being who they were created to be. That was the way the weekend felt. If you’ve never attended the parish retreat, I encourage you to put it on your calendar, Labor Day weekend 2026. Come be a part of the way the world could be.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection - When was the last time you considered stepping to the rear of the line, or encouraged someone struggling to achieve something seemingly insignificant but important to them? What would it cost you to be less important in order to allow someone else to have their special moment?

They come in threes - August 29, 2025

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 16, 17; PM Psalm 22; 1 Kings 5:1-6:1,7; Acts 28:1-16; Mark 14:27-42

There is a saying about things happening in threes. Usually those “things” are unwelcomed challenges, rather than happy spots of joy. For example, my car has had a string of issues lately. New brakes, with follow-up adjustments. A nail lodged awkwardly in the sidewall of a tire. And yesterday: three rocks. Three little pieces of gravel were trapped between the rotor and the heat shield in my front tire. An unbearable metallic racket erupted whenever the wheels moved – like nails scratching a chalkboard. It rendered my car undrivable, and we called for a tow truck. The mechanic said my car is going through a season of poor luck and suggested an exorcist. I laughed!

While my car issues have not sent me into a “pity party,” repeated disappointments and loss can make resilience tough. We look at our own lives and the losses in our world. We turn our eyes to God and ask, “Are you even here? Are you with me? Are you with us in this?”

God’s answer comes through Jesus, “I am with you always, even until the end of this time.” (Matthew 28:20) Jesus knows disappointment and heartache, and he endures through it. In Mark’s gospel today, he and his disciples go to Gethsemane after the lovely meal we call the Last Supper. Jesus asks them to sit with him while he prays, “Remain here, and keep awake.” While deep in prayer to God about the hard sacrifices ahead, Peter, James, and John cannot keep their eyes open. Jesus finds them sleeping and asks that they stay alert. It happens three times. They want to support their friend – and yet they fail. They don’t even know what to say to explain themselves.

The thrice disappointment of Jesus’ friends does not shake his love for them. He goes to them and says the time has come for them to proceed to the next thing, facing examination by the high priest and the authorities – and is ultimately sentenced to death.

Jesus models steadiness in the face of disappointment and uncertainty. He does not ignore the hardship. He faces circumstances and people with grace and honesty. Surely he tired of hard things happening in threes…and he is with us when we are there, too. Take heart this day, in the face of joys and disappointments. God loves you and you are not alone.

Always with God’s help,
Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

 Lift up prayers today for those who are having an "off" day, with challenges to the left and right. Pray that they feel God's closeness this moment.

Be attentive to those around you today who need some extra grace. Send a letter of hope. Sit on the porch with someone who is lonely.

Pooh Bear - August 27

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:1-24; PM Psalm 12, 13, 14; 1 Kings 3:1-15; Acts 27:9-26; Mark 14:1-11

Not too long ago, I opened the door to my son’s room before heading to bed. There he was, sound asleep, snuggled tightly against his old Pooh Bear—the same one he has had since he was an infant. Its fabric is worn, its seams are stretched, and to anyone else, it might look like something ready for the trash. I know this stage in his life is disappearing so that moment of seeing what he has always found so important was important to me. To him—and to me—that stuffed animal is precious. That bear has absorbed countless tears, shared endless nights of comfort, and traveled the journey of his childhood. What someone else might dismiss as nothing special is, in fact, a treasure.

That’s what comes to mind when I read about the unnamed woman who anointed Jesus at Bethany. She pours out an alabaster jar of perfume—something costly and extravagant—over his head. Those watching are quick to criticize: “What a waste! That could have been sold and given to the poor.” They cannot see what she sees.

Of course, we know Jesus as extraordinary.  But in that room he looked like an ordinary rabbi, a teacher surrounded by followers. No one else in that moment recognized the depth of who he was or what he was facing. Yet she did. She saw something sacred, and she responded with extravagant love.

Jesus defends her: “She has done a beautiful thing to me… she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.” The others measured her action by economics, efficiency, and logic. She measured by love.

Faith so often asks us to see differently, to notice the holiness in the ordinary, to recognize beauty where others see waste, to value love more than logic. Like my son’s bear, the value is not in what it looks like or how much it costs, but in the story it carries and the love it embodies.  Maybe this is why as Christian’s we are called to hold each other, every human being as the most precious gift and responsibility of our faith because in the best of circumstances humans are the perfect embodiment of someone’s love and we should at least assume that about each other. 

The question for us is this: what do we see as precious that others might overlook? And are we willing, like the woman at Bethany, to pour ourselves out in extravagant love, even when the world calls it wasteful? Maybe it’s the people that our culture sees as not necessary or pushes to the margins of society. Maybe it’s our time that we so easily fill when we pull out our smart phones. Maybe it’s in the relationships we have let fade. There is so much that is precious because it belongs to God and we just have to see how important it is to the one who made it.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection: “What do we see as precious that others might overlook? And are we willing, like the woman at Bethany, to pour ourselves out in extravagant love, even when the world calls it wasteful?

Modern Day Prophets - August 25

Today’s Readings - Psalm 1, 2, 3; 1 Kings 1:5-31; Acts 26:1-23; Mark 13:14-27

There’s a line from the Epistle that was chosen for today that struck me as I was considering today’s readings, “. . . get up and stand on your feet . . .” Jesus told Saul on the road to Damascus to stand up because he had work for him to do. It reminds me of a song from the ‘70s written by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, “Get Up, Stand Up.” They were inspired to write the song while touring in Haiti after witnessing the extreme poverty of the Haitian people.This song in particular speaks to Marley and Tosh’s experiences of growing up in Jamaica where they fought for their religious freedom. During the seventies the Rastafarian religion was being attacked, and so they employed their music to bring awareness to the oppression and the religious freedom and equality they were denied.   

The irony isn’t lost that of all the people Jesus could have chosen for God’s work Saul was the least likely candidate. Saul was the worst of the bad guys. He not only persecuted the followers of Jesus but in many cases executed them for their beliefs in Jesus as the Messiah. Truth is however, he was perfect for the job. If there’s ever been someone who could model what a life lived in the glow of God’s grace of forgiveness is it was Paul.

I wonder if we listen to those words Jesus spoke to him as distant observers, or do we hear those words as if spoken to us? Jesus speaks to each of us when he says, “Stand up.” Stand up for what you believe in, stand up for those who have no voice, share the light of forgiveness for those who can’t imagine that they could ever be forgiven. If you feel unprepared, unworthy, can you imagine what Saul must have felt?!

Marley and Tosh knew what it was like to suffer for their religion, to advocate for freedom from oppression. These Rastafarian soulmates were unlikely modern-day prophets who stood up for what they believed in. Did they increase awareness? Did they inspire others? They probably did, however, Rastafarians still face persecution and discrimination related to their spiritual practices. There is so much more work to be done. There are pockets all over the world, including the United States where people cannot practice their faith freely without fear of persecution and so many who yearn to hear the words, “you are forgiven, come take your place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

The light that comes from the Good News is the simple truth that we are all offered the same forgiveness and grace from God; however, it doesn’t come without cost. Saul, or who we know as Paul, suffered for his beliefs as do people still. I know I find it hard at times to speak my truth to the powers that I encounter. Yet Jesus continues to say, “Stand up, find your voice.” In whatever way you feel empowered, speak up, share the light of Christ and tell the story of freedom from the power of sin, the power of the risen Messiah. Believe it or not, you too can be a modern-day prophet.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Reflection and Challenge - When was the last time you felt afraid to speak up? What would it take to find the courage to “Stand up,” to speak up for those who cannot or will not? To share the good news? Ask God for the courage to do that which we are given to do.

Deliver me, O Lord - August 22, 2025

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 140, 142; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12)
2 Samuel 19:24-43; Acts 24:24-25:12; Mark 12:35-44

During an online continuing education course this week, I heard some lovely and inspired prayers used to open our sessions. The convener prayed for God to bring focus and vulnerability, peace and meaning to our time together. Her words were profound and poetic.

I come away with a different feeling after perusing and praying through the psalms appointed for this morning and evening in the Daily Office:

“Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil in their hearts and stir up strife all day long.” (Ps. 140:1-2).

“I cry to the Lord with my voice; to the Lord I make loud supplication. I pour out my complaint before him and tell him all my trouble.” (Ps. 142:1-2).

“O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly; hear my voice when I cry to you.” (Ps. 141:1).

“Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; answer me in your righteousness. Enter not into judgment with your servant, for in your sight shall no one living be justified.” (143:1-2).

These four psalms’ opening verses strike tones of urgency and agony. My shoulders are tensing up, just thinking about them! And yet, there are times when these prayers are the ones we need upon our lips. What liberty and honesty can come from saying and feeling these words. We receive permission to name the heaviness upon our hearts to God and to one another. When we do not speak the truth of pain in our lives, it oozes out in other ways – in anxiety, in fits of rage, in destructive behaviors, to name a few.

If these psalms are not what you need to put voice to hardship today, that’s okay. Tuck them away for a time when it feels like all is lost or upside down. These prayers of deep appeal to the Lord remind us that we have companions in our sorrow. We are not alone in the depths. We still have much to learn – and the prayers of the psalmist can center us and help us name our desire: deliver me, Lord, so that I can praise you more and more.

Always with God’s help,
Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

Revisit today's psalms. What does it feel like when you name the heaviness upon your heart? Who is a confidante and prayer partner for you in the anguish? 

If there is a hard time upon you, connect with someone you trust. Confide in them. Ask them to pray for you. Pray for the Lord's guidance along the way. God is faithful, even when the way is hard and long.