It’s Sunday morning and the faithful have gathered. Sitting two rows ahead is a woman who just a few days ago was widowed for the second time. It’s possible that this is not the worst tragedy represented in the room. There might be pain here that cuts deeper and has less hope than a husband suddenly going to heaven.

There are times when the afflicted need to be comforted and sometimes the comfortable need to be afflicted. Number 631 in the hymn book doesn’t seem to do a lot to afflict the comfortable. It’s a feel-good song for all who like the familiarity of the old hymns with those phrases like “unto him against that day” and “nor if I walk the vale with him.”

The pastor made a point in his message that Jesus asked questions and intellectual/spiritual curiosity is a good thing. I need to look up that quote about their being more faith in honest doubt than in half the creeds.