Looking at the river, I feel a certain amount of sureness, but in recent years we know we cannot even be sure of this any more. Our environment changes too fast for us to feel comfortable especially with the newspapers and TV hitting us with bad news every day about the future of our environment. As I read my morning devotion, I find comfort in these words: 

     “I stand on the edge of the sea with its roar in my ears, and its sting on my face. I gain its grandest lesson; God stands SURE.”

     It used to be that we could be sure about Sears, Montgomery Ward, Reader’s Digest, several brands of tires, a box of matches, and baking powder. But these have joined a long list of things that are not dependable anymore. It hurts when I pick up my Reader’s Digest that I have to finger through so many cardboard ads to find an article to read. I don’t like feeling plastic instead of metal parts on the car.

     Even organizations have changed so Boy Scouts are really not American anymore. Corruption has crept into so many sports that when Cal Ripken came into the spotlight even those who didn’t pay attention to baseball began to latch on because they were so refreshed to behold his honesty, dependability, and sureness with such ease and charm. We all wanted to believe that our America could be this way again.

     More and more young teachers who don’t even love children began to file into the ranks. I remember one who was among our leading young teachers and the mother of three of her own, as well as a Sunday school teacher, who was speaking to me one day about Christmas. She said, “All of this preparation for Christmas and it is over in fifteen minutes on Christmas morning. I’d rather lay on my sofa the next day and read a harlequin romance.” Her words are still sending chills down my spine.

     More and more we notice close friends not being dependable, scores of nieces and nephews whom I loved and helped during their growing up don’t have time to visit or speak anymore unless they need something.
Manners, writing “thank you” notes and respect seemed to have gone out of style and are just not “sync” with the way things are being done. How many times do you hear, “You just can’t trust anyone anymore”?

     It becomes more and more evident that only God is SURE. Still, I am sure He wants me to remember the niece that brought me such a beautiful birthday card, I cried reading it. I’m sure He wants me to remember those dear friends who have not only traveled a second mile with me but more miles that I am worthy. I am sure He wants me to remember the other day when a student I had not seen in thirty years held me tight and told me what an influence my life had made on hers and she felt I was like her mother. I’m very sure God wants me to remember those firemen, policemen, service personnel, and John Q. Public, who stood with the New York Mayor on Sept. 11th.

     The news of the last few evenings has been distressing. More anthrax in Washington; The FBI is warning us that our National monuments in Washington and New York are expected to have a number of terrorists attacks during the Memorial Day week-end. In one of my birthday baskets was an American Flag to paste on my window. I placed it above the one my Mother put there in World War II, and my heart grieved because I could not be sure of that precious flag anymore. I know real Americans will give it their best to the very end. Still, I feel very good inside when I read the words of Psalm 139.

     “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will hold me fast.” I thank you. I thank you, Lord. 

© 2002 Florence Jenkins Muse All Rights Reserved