August 24, 2015
Dear Friends and Family of the Diocese of Eau Claire,
The New York Stock Exchange had a wild day today. It opened and a minute later the Dow had dropped nearly 1100 points. It recovered to a loss of 140 points and later closed with a loss of more than 500 points. Analysts weigh in from every direction as to what the market will do tomorrow and beyond.
It is human nature to want to plan for the future. God gave us minds to understand the past and to consider the days and years ahead. Still, we can’t predict with 100% certainty as to what will happen. In contrast God who is all knowing and all powerful does know the future. How this occurs is beyond our understanding. It is only in relationship with him that we can gain insight.
Through prayer, the recognition of signs, and our willingness to be sacramental people, we can connect with God. He leads us to anticipate the future with ever deeper insights. While we can’t move forward with certainty, we can trust in God to show us the way. He wants us to enjoy the journey we walk with him. We end up celebrating the destination God has planned all along. This isn’t magic. It is living into God’s mystery. The future isn’t certain, but God doesn’t leave us in confusion or ambiguity either. Instead, we go forward with hope and faith. Surrounding all this is God’s love. Not a bad way to live! With my love and best wishes, I am,
Your brother in Christ,
Jay