Dear friends:
Madeleine L’Engle is a distinguished author, poet, mother, and grandmother. She has written and said a lot of wise and helpful things, none more true than this: “To be a parent is to only be as happy as your least happy child.”
Everybody can understand that. When your child is unhappy, you are unhappy. When your child hurts, you hurt. When your child is in trouble, you experience it deeply.
As we continue our sermon series “Wrestling with God: Finding Faith,” we’ll explore the story in Mark’s Gospel of a man whose heart breaks for his son. The son’s precarious medical condition causes the father considerable anguish, and, like a good father, he seeks out every possible remedy for his boy.
By the time the father gets to Jesus, he doubts much will change, and yet he comes to Jesus anyway, confessing both belief and doubt. He believes, at least a little, but he also doubts, and Jesus creates a sacred space for him to acknowledge his cognitive dissonance around matters of faith.
Most of us understand this man more than we care to admit. You can read the whole story here in preparation. If you, a family member, or a friend, struggle with the relationship between faith and doubt, we’ll explore the issue in-depth this weekend, and I encourage your attendance.
We’ll continue to worship in a ‘mask-optional’ sanctuary this weekend, enjoy outstanding music, and be simultaneously grateful for the opportunity while respecting personal choice toward health and safety.
Come, and bring a friend.
Warmly,
