Love Story

May 2008

The airport shuttle train was crowded. As the door closed behind me, I looked desperately for a strap or pole to hold onto, but every inch of support was taken by other travelers. Imagine my near panic. After all, the days when I rode a crowded subway back and forth to work - and could balance with the best of them - were a memory. I was about ready to grab someone’s arm in desperation when a porter with an empty wheelchair motioned for me to sit down. Embarrassed but relieved, I sat.

I’ve tried to be as self-reliant as possible since my husband John died. To lean on others unnecessarily weakens me and burdens them. But be completely independent? Never! Every human being was created to depend wholeheartedly on the One who gave him or her breath. Here’s how I expressed that in a poem:

“Like riding

the subway

at rush hour

standing

without support

is life

without God. “

Trusting God, however, doesn’t come automatically. That’s why we must pray meditatively each day, asking Him to keep us from falling when fear or temptation or exhaustion is squeezing the life out of us. Every time we do that, He is pleased. Our Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer loves us. He wants to take care of us. When we trust Him, that’s one way we practice loving Him back. The author of Jude knew that: he ended his letter with a chorus of praise.

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (24-25).

So hold on tight!

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