Overcoming---- the Friday 5

"...But this whole thing has got me thinking, so many of us are overcomers in one way or anoither, so many have amazing stories to tell of God's faithfulness in adversity. And so I bring you this Friday 5;"

1.Have you experienced God's faithfulness at a difficult time? Tell as much or as little as you like... Good Friday 1995. My first internship is crumbling to bits around me. I spent that afternoon at teh church doing some work and end up wandering up and down the darkened sanctuary in anguished prayer. ANd GOd was there, listening to me yelling, I just knew it.

2. Have you experienced a dark night of the soul, if so what brought you through? In classic terms, not so much. The closest would be the year following my "completed unsuccessfully" (i.e. failed) internship. ANd a big part of what got me through was that I had commitments at key times. That and no matter how low I got, or how often I stood on blaconies loooking over the edge the idea of not going on remained more of a passing thought (although sometimes it took longer to pass than others).

3. Share a Bible verse, song, poem that has brought you comfort? There were a variety of short little "chorus-type" pieces I would sing as part of prayer time. And the repeated line in the UCC New Creed We Are Not Alone is always precious. Scripture varies with my mood/need. MAtt 25 about sheep and goats as that reminder of other priorities, 1 COr 12 & 13, Luke's Gospel...

4. Is "why suffering" a valid question? Certainly. ANd so is crying out "it isn't fair!!!". NOt that there are any answers, but tasking helps somehow.

5. And on a lighter note- you have reached the end of a dark and difficult time- how are you going to celebrate? Breathing. Just breathing easy for the first time in a long while.