Marathon Madness

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 


I think of the valley of death that exists at the corner of Exeter and Boylston streets in Boston this week. I have walked that street many times; met friends on that corner. To see it covered in blood and detritus was appalling. 

As I have tried to wash that image out of my mind in the days since the attack, the words of the 23rd Psalm have served as a balm for my distress. But the fact is: evil exists. There are times when events in our world cast our collective sense of comfort and safety into the fire; times when we teeter at the edge of hopelessness. 

This week, let us remember that we are Easter people; and when the valley of the shadow of death threatens us, we cling to our Lord's words: I am with you. I will never leave or forsake you.

Do We Need Proof?

But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."  John 20:25

I think Thomas got a bad rap.  After all, how many of us have called him “Doubting Thomas?”  Thomas had not been in the Upper Room when Jesus first came to the disciples, so when the disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord,” no wonder he was unwilling to take their word for it. He wanted proof.

As children of the information age, we, too, often ask for proof. Yet, concerning the mysteries of God, concerning the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, there will never be concrete evidence.  Just as there is no “block of love” sitting in a museum somewhere to prove that love exists, there is no “block of faith” in another museum somewhere.  Yet we are aware of the existence of both. 

This week, as we consider Thomas’ request for proof, let us rest in the truth of Christ’s answer to him, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Are you blessed? 

Running Home to What We Know

Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."
They said to him, "We will go with you."  John 21:3



Peter had had it. After the crucifixion, after days being cooped up in the Upper Room, Peter announced, "I am going fishing." He wanted to go back home to what he knew, to what felt "normal." Apparently the others felt the same way; they journeyed back to Galilee with Peter.

When life spins out of control, when the present is too hard to face, we too, may wistfully dream about kinder, simpler times. We may long to return to what once was. Peter did. The disciples did. The thing is, as Peter retreated, God followed him.

God never leaves us - even when we are running away.
Do you perceive God with you this very moment?