What About Everyone Else?

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

I'm coming to this post from a sad place, having just found out a dear mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend has left this earth. I also come to this post from a place of joy in knowing she is with God and the earthly pain she has been living with is now gone, replaced by the strength given us by God's promise of a long life with God. So, yes, I come to this post from going between one place in my heart and another.

Today's Psalm reminds us that God is our protector and it's by God we will be rescued from the trials and failings of this earth. However, the Psalm also says that only those who love and know God will be privy to this divine treatment.

What about everyone else?

Lent is a mere 2 days away, beginning this week with Ash Wednesday and continuing for 6 weeks until Easter morning. It will be my Lenten journey this year to understand that very question because I believe, deep in my heart, that God does not discriminate between those who know God and those who don't. I know, without exemption, that God loves everyone, but do I believe just as strongly that God welcomes everyone into God's heaven? If so, why do I read in the bible that God might not?

Maybe it's because of where my heart is at the moment or maybe it's because of the shortcomings in my own faith, but either way these are questions I want to explore over the next few weeks in the hopes I will find the answers, at least the answers God wants me to find.

Because I understand in my heart, mind, and soul that God speaks to us through many things, I will continue to read the lectionary and connect it to the world around me as I travel this Lenten trail. I will also do my best to be more attentive to how God is helping me find the answers to my questions through those around me.

My self is telling me this will not be an easy journey to go on. I will need to pull on the strength of God as much as the strength of friends, colleagues, and strangers. It might not be fair to ask you to go on this journey with me but still, if you are willing, take my hand and come along.