Luke 19:10

Carol Wood Luke 19:10

"For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."

In The End of Your Life Book Club, Will Schwalbe, the author describes a period in time, just after his mother, Mary Anne, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His family was a family of avid readers, and as they navigate this difficult time, he and his mother embark on reading and sharing responses to books, which somehow both serves to help them talk about the important matters of life and death, and to find solace in the lives and stories of others.

Will's mother is a woman of great faith and this remains steadfastly so as she progresses sadly through the stages of her treatment and illness. Will is not a believer, though his mother seems to suggest (without guile) a number of books with religious themes, including the lovely book, Gilead by Marilyn Robinson and a book that gave her great comfort, Daily Strength for Daily Needs, a book of meditations and prayers, not unlike this very collection of Lenten Devotions.

Mary Anne, in one of their many conversations about books and life and death and hope, talks about how the best prayers are the prayers of heathens - because they so seldom pray, their prayers have more intensity and more meaning! I'm not sure if that is true or not, but ultimately, Will tells her that he will pray for her, and nothing could have brought her more comfort.

As I pondered this scripture, Mary Anne's persistent faith came to mind and I would recommend this book to you for it is indeed a book of hope and faith and endurance and familial love - and books! In it we see how determinedly God continued to seek out Mary Anne and inspire her work. I also believe, God continued to seek out her son, Will. God steadfastly works to save us - to give us reasons to believe, to hope, and to grasp God's presence in the world. God goes after us, searches us out in any number of creative ways - in nature, in church, in families and lovers and friends - and in books and bedside conversations. God is determined to save us, just as Mary Ann endeavored so patiently and quietly to lead her son to a faith that he might embrace as a source of comfort. God is after you - trust that God will find you and push you and encourage you and prod you and love you. This is God's promise.