Terminal bone cancer. A few days left of life on earth. One of my peers in my home congregation.

“Oh, good God, not again!” I exclaimed within myself at the stunning news Wednesday afternoon.

“How does God figure these things out?” I asked a friend rhetorically Wednesday night in the church parking lot. A friend whose brother had just been operated on for three brain tumors.

This morning I arose earlier after going to bed later last night. Headache. Stress.

Heartache. For friends. For us.

Weights on my mind and heart. Relationships. Finances. Health. Family. Church. Mission.

After eating some protein (brown beans on a slice of cheese, followed by homemade yogurt), I cooked some water and assembled a mug’s-worth of coffee. Sipping and slurping, I read my way through today’s Scripture portion, the second half of Psalm 31:

But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

(Psalm 31:14,19,21,24)

My mental and digital cross referencing took me to other verses: Continue reading →