Great Is Thy Faithfulness

 Coming in to work this morning, I decided to take the long way to work.  I sometimes do that when I want to think or just enjoy the morning.  I don’t take Kellogg in as I usually do; rather, I come in by one or more roundabout ways that consume more time, but also have less traffic and congestion.

 As I was coming in to work, I was thinking about those just in our congregational fellowship who are dealing with some kind of pain or suffering during this holiday season.  We have one in the ICU on a ventilator due to COVID.  One was admitted last evening with a heart attack.  More than one is a widow or widower mourning the relatively recent loss of a life mate.  One has a son with advanced cancer.  One has had surgery that didn’t relieve the pain and is faced with either more surgery or being on pain medication for an extended time.  One has lost her child support and has no other source of income.  And these are just the beginning of the health issues that have manifested over the past few days and weeks.

 Additionally, we have people who are barely making ends meet right now.  Some are struggling with mental health issues.  Others have family and relational issues.  Some are caught in one of the governmental bureaucracies that purport to provide help but often are a hindrance due to the way the program is constructed.  Some are facing the reality that older age often brings…that life can never be as it once was.  And again, this is just the beginning of the struggles that I am aware of…and I’m sure there are many that I have no knowledge of.

 For a church Elder and minister such as myself, the burdens of the congregation can be overwhelming at times.  And one of those times was as I was driving in to work this morning thinking about all of the hurt, pain, and turmoil many are experiencing now.  As I thought of many of these individuals and families, a sense of helplessness came over me and, as often happens at such times, I asked God how we were supposed to be able to work with it all.  No answer apparently came.

 Arriving at the building, I was greeted by Rocky, one of our outdoor friends.  He was sitting in the sun warming himself, charging his cell phone using one of our outside electric outlets.  Rocky usually doesn’t come around until later in the day.  This was sort of unusual for him.

 “Hey, Rocky!  What’s going on?” I called out to him.

 Rocky told me more bad news.  He told me that Wild Bill, another of our outdoor friends who had recently gotten an apartment, passed away.  Rocky wasn’t sure, but thought they were saying the death was suspicious.

 We visited about Bill for a minute, then Rocky told me someone had stolen his bike…had cut the lock and took his bike.  This was the most recent of several that have been taken from him, and he wasn’t a bit happy.  We visited for a minute or two more, and then helped him with a couple of his immediate needs that we could fill.  I asked him to let me know if he finds out more about Bill.

 I went into the office and fired up the computer.  I clicked on the live feed of Senator Dole’s body lying in state in the Capitol building.  The politicians were finishing up short speeches about the Senator’s extraordinary life of service.  And although I never knew the Senator, the news of his passing a few days ago was just one more thing on my mind today.  Mr. Dole was far from perfect, but was an example for those in the political world to emulate, should they decide to do so.  With all of bad news I’d already received and thought about this morning, I again wondered how in the world I as an Elder and minister was supposed to process and respond to these events.  The depression and, shall I say, morbidity factor were rather high this morning in the office.

 And then the live feed of the Dole memorial announced a song to be sung.  The piano introduction sounded vaguely familiar, and I wondered if it could possibly be…  Yes, it was the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”  I immediately focused all my attention on the words that I already knew so well, and thanked God for giving me an answer to the depressing morning.

 Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father.  There is no shadow of turning with thee.  Thou changest not; thy compassions they fail not.  As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

 Great is they faithfulness!  Great is they faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see.  All I have needed thy hand hath provided.  Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest; sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.  Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.  Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow; blessings all mine, with 10,000 beside.

 Great is they faithfulness!  Great is they faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see.  All I have needed thy hand hath provided.  Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

 AMEN