In the need of prayer...

I am grateful for all the day-after-the-election postings by Facebook friends offering hope and encouragement. I am striving to remember our Christian faith that, when all is complete, joy will transcend anger, love will overcome fear, community will replace division, and life will defeat death. I’ve preached those things, and I trust them.

But I also fear that we who do believe such positive things are entering a period of protracted struggle against the inhumane “principalities and powers of this present age.” I hope I am up to the challenges of our times.

Meantime, Thursday I will have surgery to remove what is, I hope, a benign mass on my left parotid (salivary) gland. It unsettles me to think about the surgeon making an incision just in front of my left ear lobe down to my neck, but that is what must happen to take care of this thing.

I will be asleep, of course. I trust I will wake up from my surgery, ready to do what I can do to heal.

We who are disappointed in how many of our fellow Americans voted yesterday may need to rest up to prepare for what’s ahead. To let others care for us the way our posts are caring for one another, so we can be strengthened to do whatever we can do to get us well.

I hope and pray our nation will wake up to the power of compassion and justice, and exercise them toward full health. And, I ask you to direct your good thoughts and/or prayers my way tomorrow as well. Thanks.