As we journey together through Lent, Christians throughout Columbia will be sharing their own beautifully written personal meditations. Each will be accompanied by a corresponding scripture reading, and be linked to that passage in the Holy Bible. If you would like to join us on Columbia’s Lenten journey, please submit your personal meditation by email. Especially meaningful submissions will be printed. Let us continue our Lenten journey, day by day, to its glorious culmination on Easter Sunday.
Scripture reading: John 6:60-71
This passage follows Jesus’ dissertation on the nature of Communion: “I am the Bread of Life.” The disciples appear to take offense at His words and Peter responds, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
The larger question here is a hard one: What does it take to be a disciple in times of hardship? There have been many times when our faith is challenged. In 1994, my best friend from childhood died from alcohol poisoning. At first, I was devastated; we had been as close as brothers, roommates at one time, and over 30 years I had bailed him out of one scrape or another. At first, it was very difficult for me to see any upside here. Then, I had a realization. For the first time in a very long time, no one had to worry about where he was, what he was doing or what he was going to do next. I realized that Go had intervened.
In that moment, I felt a peace that has been with me ever since. To quote the famous poem Footprints: “The times when you saw one set of footprints, is when I carried you.”
Sometimes it takes a trial to realize God’s presence in our lives.
Doug Steimle
Eucharistic Minister and Docent
Trinity Cathedral
Columbia, South Carolina
You might also like to read:
- Bible Verse of the Day
- Daily Bible Guide
- Growing in Christ
- Bible Study Tools Online
- The Jesus Walk Bible Study Series
A discussion of today’s Lenten meditation is encouraged. If you would like to participate, please feel free to write a comment in the space below. There are many different outlooks and interpretations of scripture passages and, the more we share, the more we learn.
Sharon is a member of the Community Church of the Midlands that meets at Seven Oaks Community Center at 200 Leisure Lane in Columbia and is a frequent participant, with her husband Douglas, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral located at 1100 Sumter Street in Columbia.
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If you enjoyed this article, you can find more at Sharon's Columbia Biblical Studies Examiner homepage.
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