Yesterday I received a heartening message from my dear friend, whom I’ll call Grace. She’s been facing some painful changes in her life and we’ve been talking on the phone now and then, as well as exchanging email messages. Helpful context: Grace subscribes to Godspotting and receives each post via email. The challenge she faces now rises from a person who’s important in her life who has turned to paganism.
Here’s what she wrote:
“First, thanks for listening to me rant last week (well, almost 2 weeks now). After a great weekend with friends, I am feeling much better. Two of my friends are pagan and had some great insight for me. Paganism has something resembling the “Do Unto Others” commandment. It’s the Rule of Three or the Threefold Rule.
But the larger reason for this email is this Godspotting post. I’m traveling and I saw this come through during my drive from [my hometown] to catch a flight [at the airport]. I kept it on my Blackberry so I could read it when I got to my gate; which I did.
I enjoyed the message very much. I’m much like your friend in my spirituality. I believe in a higher power of some sort, but am very open to what that higher power might be. This message was one I really needed to hear right now. 🙂
So, I read it and deleted it. I hesitated on the choice of deleting it completely or just deleting it from my Blackberry. I chose to delete it completely since I know I can look at your Blog anytime and find previous stories.
Done, right? Well, not exactly. After I clicked delete and confirmed the deletion, the little red light on my Blackberry was blinking again. Sheesh, I thought as I navigated back to my inbox. I expected to see another email or a text, but I did not. It was this same email from you [from Feedburner, actually]. Apparently I’m not as done with this message [as I thought I was].
Grace”
I feel so blessed when friends share with me that a post I’ve been led to write here has affected them.
I went searching for an illustrative passage for this post and came upon Psalm 119. The entire psalm speaks so clearly to Grace’s situation that I invite you to read it now.
145 I cried with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!
I will observe Your statutes.
146 I cried to You; save me
And I shall keep Your testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I wait for Your words.
148 My eyes anticipate the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your ordinances.
150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
They are far from Your law.
151You are near, O LORD,
And all Your commandments are truth.
152 Of old I have known from Your testimonies
That You have founded them forever.
Psalm 119:145-152 (NASB)
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