A tough week!

Last week was a very difficult week for many reasons. Troubling, confusing, frustrating, tiring, numbing – all words to describe the week. I am sure there are more good words, but these are all that hit me at this moment. Much like the death of a close family member or a trusted friend – the emotions of last week left one feeling blah and tired. Perhaps because the folks involved were so close? Perhaps because so much was and is at stake? Perhaps because now, forever lives are changed – never to be quite the same again. What happened is not as important as what was learned from the experience. Clearly when something like this occurs it causes you to reflect and take account of your own life and your own values. Could this happen to me? Would I/could I allow this to happen in my own life? The answer is absolutely yes! We are all possessed with the human condition. We all fall short and occasionally fall down all together. So how do we respond? Clearly we are not in a position to judge seeing as this could easily happen to us. After the anger subsides then you must offer grace and mercy. The very same grace and mercy that God extends to us through Jesus Christ when we falter. After repentance comes healing. In the end this process brings hope! Hope that next week will be better, healing will occur, and life will continue! And sure enough it has and will the next time too. Thank you Lord for the grace you grant us all – help us to measure our fellow brothers and sisters as you measure us – and extend the same grace and mercy that you offer us when we fall down when we repent and beg your forgiveness.