In early March I ushered for a nearly sold-out production of
The Diary of Anne Frank
. As the lights dimmed and the curtain raised, little did we know how the play would foreshadow our own impending isolation; like Anne Frank, we would soon be ushered inside in order to protect ourselves from an enemy lurking outside our walls.
As a teacher I’ve told my students how Anne Frank affirmed that “in spite of everything,” that good was eternal. Although she suffered and died in a concentration camp, her spirit lives forever.
Christianity has given me the belief in Eternal Life, which means I can choose to endure the painful vicissitudes of this world with grace and courage, because I know they are fleeting.
As Episcopal Bishop of Arizona, my grandfather recited his own prayer for my father when he was ordained into the priesthood. I hope that it will offer comfort during this difficult (but temporary) time:
