FROM THE PULPIT: LET US BE REMINDED..DON'T LOSE HEART

My wife and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the St. Louis Art Museum to see the collection of art work from the Vatican featuring the "Angel." As I passed by and looked at the beautiful art work from many centuries ago, I was struck by a very powerful thought -- Every person's life, in a sense, resembles a work of art.

Just as light and shadow are basic elements of a painting, they are also part of the pattern of our human existence. For in every life there comes happy days and sad ones, brightness and tragedy. They follow each other and are the normal expectations of life.

In some lives, the darker tones seem to prevail, and there are many days when we feel unable to cope with those difficult facts: discouragement and disillusion. There are times when life does not seem fair. There are times when we feel everyone is against us. There are times when we feel driven to despair. When this happens we need to remember that unfairness, opposition and despair are not unique to our own generation and our own time.

Many centuries ago, Paul wrote words of hope to a church that was in a desperate situation. The members were dealing with some very real issues causing them to feel rather distraught. But the Apostle Paul seemed to have uplifting words for them when he wrote: "We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed" (II Corinthians 4:8). How can we maintain our courage at times when life's deepest meanings have been shattered, when fears are loose in the world? How can we keep from losing heart?

Perhaps Paul's answer to this question, given to the Corinthians, has a quality that applies to our own situations in life today. You and I can endure disappointments, unfairness, despair and opposition when we are supported by one another. One of the party that successfully scaled Mount Everest said, "No one climbs alone." We all have a sense of deep need for one another, and unless this need for fellowship is met, we lose heart.

As I walked through the art museum and looked at the marvelous artwork of the Vatican, I couldn't help but think of the fact that each piece of sculpture, each picture and each artifact was so special and unique. Every person is a unique creation of God, and each of us can radiate the light God gives us. Every one of us faces the problem of finding real meaning in life. But how great our life can be when we know that there are those who are there to support us, uplift us and guide us. How good it is to know that God's love fills us with joyful service. Like the artist many centuries ago who struggled and maybe became discouraged or the distraught members of the Corinthian Church let us be reminded...don't lose heart!