I worked Sunday night shift. Monday morning my sleep was interrupted just after 10am (way too early). But my beloved (wife) informed me that she had just learned the brother in a family which has proven to be good friends over the years died. The funeral was to start in about half an hour. So I rushed around and made it to the funeral home, with no time to spare.

The officiant was a priest (cousin to the deceased) whom I haven’t seen for a few years. Also there was the family’s priest, just to show support.

Well, I feel good that I made it for the celebration of his life.

A verse came to mind later. It sits in the context of suffering for the sake of Jesus and the Good News. What happened to me would rate as a minor inconvenience compared to the grief and suffering of the bereaved family. Still, when a lesson flashes into my mind I will not let it pass unheeded.

It reads, “dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence {in God} when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 God’s Word).

Always be ready.

We never know when an opportunity to serve Jesus or support one another may arise.

Fatigued as I was my first thought through the fog of half-awake brainwork was to get back into bed. I thank God that Paraclete blew a clearing in the cloudy thinking of my feeble mind and got my feet into motion to get me where God expected me to be. In my human strength I headed one way. In the divine plan I headed another way.

And it was a good thing.

“But he [Jesus] told me: ‘My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.’ So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me. Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It’s clear that when I’m weak, I’m strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 God’s Word).