Are you someone that others consider "a rock in the storm?"
Are you the designated listener when your friends need to vent?
Do you value independence such that you don't have an easy time asking for help?

If you know a student or teacher, I hope that you will reach out to them this week and let them know you are thinking about them as they all begin a new year. It is sure to be a year for the books (no pun intended).

We trust in God’s steadfast love and mercy. We trust that God will redeem us from where we suffer in the depths. We hope and wait. For with the Lord, there is steadfast love.

We no longer live in a place where we can worship God in the “temple” whenever we’d like and we’ve been on a pilgrimage, of sorts, for five long months to get back there. On the way, let the Song of Ascent remind us, with each step, that each attempt we make to live in unity with our kindred is a moment when soothing, healing oil is poured over our parched skin.