It is easy to be overwhelmed by the news of horrible events and listening to people shout at each other on TV. You wonder where is the world going and are things getting so much worse. Then God smiles at me and sends me a reminder of what is also happening around this world.
I was given to an opportunity to drive to St. Simons Island to speak to a Lenten group that gets together on Wednesday nights for evensong, dinner, and then to listen to someone. While my host was at choir practice, I ventured into this beautiful church that sits on what I believe to be the place where the first Anglican service was ever held on this continent. Slowly the church filled with people who were there to pray and worship together, and I realized I was part of something that was going on all over this country. Small groups of people joining together to pray, and sing, and enjoy its other’s fellowship. All over the country, and yes, all over the world, gathering together in groups of 10, 20, 50 or perhaps of one hundred people aren’t yelling at each other or calling for someone’s head. They bring their individual hopes and problems to God in small churches and meeting places all over the world. I cannot begin to describe how refreshed I became, and it gave new meaning to the term of “where one, or two, or three are gathered together in my name.”
I understand once again that hope lies in places like the quiet white church under the live oaks.
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