Some years ago, my wife and I attended Shea's high school graduation with the reception at Troy and Robin's house.  Being a pastor of a multi-point parish, large receptions at community-invitational events are quite common in rural MN as you can relate.  "Lunch" here is any time of the day!  After all the jovial laughs and common hand shakes with pictures galore where done, I greeted Adeline and she asked  me:  "How are you doing?"  I probably gave Adeline the most honest answer of the day, by saying:  "Not good." I said.  One of my churches was closing that fall & we didn't know what we were going to do.  She said:  "I'm sorry to hear that."  She hung her head in sorrow, as if she were beariing the burden with us.  She didn't know any of our people in the church personally, and yet knew something that every Christian does.  That is, the Man of sorrows bears our sorrows and knows how we feel before we feel.  Let your faith in Christ be stronger than any feeling you have as He freely gives in Holy Baptism, remembering that you like Adeline are one for whom Christ died!

Blessings in Him,

Thaine and Val Kister