Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”

Abraham bargains with God in a famous Old Testament story about how many good people it will require for God to spare a city (Genesis 18). After apologizing for his presumption, Abraham finally gets God down to ten people. The smallest bit of innocence, of moral decency, in other words, is of great value in God's eyes. We experience something similar when, after a particularly bad day on the job or just in the city, we come across a person or deed which makes up for all the hassle, argument, brutality, and coarseness that we've met.

We stop for coffee and are served by a gracious and smiling person who stands out against the backdrop of insensitivity and anger. A colleague senses some worry or discomfort in us and asks concernedly how things are going. In traffic or in the checkout lane someone waves us on ahead. For a moment we are reassured that not everyone in our world is looking for a confrontation. It's a relief and may be enough to restore our confidence in the human race, our hope for a better world or, at least, a better tomorrow.

We experience the same thing when we come home from a day of painful meetings and even rude people to the loving embrace of husband or wife, of children, of friends. It is enough to make it all worthwhile. And, of course, it works the other way. Anyone of us can be that light and restorative for others who may be experiencing life and other people as simply combat or cross. Worship and prayer encourage us to be that saving bit of refreshment and encouragement that will bring hope and joy to some of those we meet.

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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