Even when I am in a crowd of people, there are times when I can feel lonely. I can feel lonely with perspectives that aren’t shared by others, or experiences that don’t resonate with those around me. I can feel lonely when I wake in the middle of the night. There are simply times where I notice lonely feelings. What about you? Do you have these, too?
When we feel lonely, it is good to know we are surrounded by “a great cloud of witnesses,” as the writer of Hebrews 12 puts it. There are many people all throughout scripture and all through the ages who have tried — and continue to try — to live in the shape of Christ’s love and hospitality for others.
So the writer encourages us to lay aside every weight and run with perseverance the race before us. We don’t always get to choose what race is set before us, but we are not alone. We can encourage one another to persevere with faith in what we cannot fully see — God’s love for us, God’s love for creation.
Beloved of God, I am grateful to ponder how even when I am not physically with you, yet I am surrounded by you and many others who seek to share God’s goodness. Thank you for your ongoing perseverance in a journey marked by faith!
Three Holy Days
In our tradition, we make space on Maundy Thursday to remember central parts of our faith story. We hear about the...
