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Sitting in a doctor’s waiting room, I was moved by the
family sorrows described by a woman sitting beside me.
Listening to her account of these heartbreaking losses of
loved ones was an experience I’ll not soon forget. She and
her family will remain in my prayers.
Upon arriving home, we turned on the television just in
time to learn the sad news of the infamous college shootings
in Virginia, already labeled as America’s most tragic
massacre. Who would have expected the characteristic calm of
this quiet college setting to be shattered by gunfire and
the unwarranted loss of innocent professors and students?
How can we cope with such losses? Where can we find
comfort when the unthinkable happens? To answer this
question, I yield to our professional counselor son,
Timothy, sharing the following excerpts from his new
publication, "HIS COMFORT ZONE:"
"You’ve heard it before: ‘You need to break out of your
comfort zone!’ In most cases such counsel refers to that
place of complacency where inspiration, motivation,
achievement and growth have been forfeited for the rut of a
comfortable and familiar, if mundane, status quo.
"But when life’s rocky road offers cold comfort only,
what are you to do? Sickness attacks. Friends, even family
members betray. Financial security is fleeting. And death,
which awaits us all, is sure to remind you of that stark
fact by visiting too often those around you, those closest
to you.
"So perhaps you have bridled your ambitions, reigned in
your risks and circled your wagons – only to find yourself
huddled alone in a phony fortress. On the other hand, you
may have opted for a more proactive approach, moderating
your diet, getting plenty of rest, relaxation and
recreation. You may be reaching out to loved ones, helping
out at community functions, and looking out for those less
fortunate…but peace of mind eludes you still.
"Maybe you’ve chosen to bolster your bravery with booze
or likewise numb your nerves with various substances illicit
or legal. Sadly, millions do, only to compound the calamity
for themselves, their loved ones and society at large with
this the cruelest counterfeit of all.
"You’ve been wondering how to cope, what to do, where to
turn – when the real question is ‘Who?’ Who can provide a
zone of true and abiding comfort?
"Jesus says, ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy
laden and I will give you rest.’ As you earnestly seek that
zone of ‘peace that transcends understanding’ during your
time of trouble, it is our prayer that you’ll find this
affirmation helpful:
I’m casting all my worldly cares-
Of health, of wealth, the lack thereof,
Tomorrow’s and yesterday’s affairs,
All temporal things I think I love
Upon the One who truly cares
More faithful than a brother, He,
Who tenderly His shoulder shares
And whispers, ‘Come, come unto Me.’
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