The Power of Stories

Today in chapel, we heard about stories.

Everyone who spoke was affected in a different way by a different story, and all of us as listeners also connected in an unique way. From personal stories to Bible stories that everyone knows, every story has a meaning.

Junior Abby Bush said she remembers
being a child and acting out the part
of Jarius' daughter when her mother 
would read the Bible story in church.

Many times, we go through things that we really don't want to go through. We wonder why anything like that would have to happen. But everything happens for a reason, and if we share our story and the meaning behind it, people around us will be able to take something from it and learn something about us. Although it may make us feel vulnerable, sharing our expierences with others really does help both ourselves and the listener. People can get advice, wisdom, encouragement, or a feeling of love just from listening to one story. And when no one has to hide anything, we can experience freedom like we never have before--because we know that we are accepted for who we are.

-- Brie Rotelle

The "O" in RADIO: Openness

MCUSA's Glen Guyton used the last day of Spiritual Life Emphasis to review what he had talked about in the previous chapels, and to discuss the last topic in his RADIO theme: Openness.

R = Reaching. Reach out to the source of your faith and stay connected to God. Then reach out to those around, maybe even a new crew.

A = Adopting. Give up whatever separates you from fully participating in God's family. Treat others like part of the family. Enjoy all the benefits that come with being part of the family of God.

D = Discipleship. Find a spiritual mother or father, a mentor who can help you walk the walk. You don't have to go it alone.

I = Involvement. Don't be a spectator in your life, or your faith. Get involved! Realize that your gifts and talents are important. Use them!

O = Openness. Be open to the call of God on your life. If you are open to who God created you to be, you will be amazed at what He can do through you. Be open to new people, people who are different from you. Be open to making mistakes. Some of the greatest inventions in the world have been the result of mistakes.

Take your everyday, ordinary, walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Don't be conformed to this world, don't let the world drag you down to its level of immaturity. But be transformed--and be open to what God has for you.

The “I” in Radio: Involvement

The takeaways from Thursday morning had nothing to do with dancing, piggy-back rides, or the long lost brother of Menno Simons—although from the past three mornings, anything was possible—but rather Glen had for us three visuals to go along with his message. He had three objects made from clay: a terra cotta flower pot, an ornate candle holder that he borrowed from our campus pastor’s wash room, and a small, simple tea cup. He analyzed each object and showed us each of their differences and how their lone similarity was that they all were created from clay.

So what? Thursday’s focus was involvement. Like the clay objects, we as people are all unified by one similarity. We are humans, created by God, placed here on earth to further His Kingdom. Aside from this lone similarity, we are all created vastly different; we all have different gifts, talents, traits, and things that set us apart to do things that other people may not be able to do. Glen told us the story of a big event that he was heading up. He told us how there was a lady who came up to him at the end and asked if she could help clean up. He said this was one of the most impactful moments in his dealings with Involvement. She had no desire to be in the spotlight, she just wanted to help out and get things done.

We should strive to use our gifts, our differences, to reflect Christ’s light into the world; whether that means being “out in front” or being the “trash can.” The “trash can” imagery was used to demonstrate that even something as seemingly lowly as a person who helps out behind the scenes, or helps clean up when everything is done with are in fact just as important to the operation as the people who head it up. All that matters is that we become involved.

-- Andrew Gordon

The "D" in RADIO: Discipleship

Today was our third day in SLEW, and we came onto our third topic of R.A.D.I.O.--Discipleship. Most of what Glen talked about today was about having a mentor; having someone who would do anything for you, encourage you, pray with and for you, and be there for you. Our mentor should be someone who we look up to. Someone who we trust and who has similar ideas about life.

As Christians, we want people to see Jesus when they look at us. We try to act like Him, love like Him, and live like Him. Jesus is our mentor. When we need comfort, support, encouragement, love, or just to be held, Jesus is always there, and always will be. But sometimes He seems too far away to reach... and we need something more tangible. Something like a mentor. When we feel like we can't reach Jesus, we can reach out to others. They can help us through and share in the struggle.

Glen was able to connect all of our words in R.A.D.I.O with the D... discipleship. We adopt others into the family of Christ so we can reach to Jesus... and each other. We all need to "let go and let God." Everyone needs help, and you can find someone who can give it to you.

So make a list of attributes of people that you like. See how you would want your mentor to act, and write it down. You will be blessed if you can be discipled by someone else in the family of God.

-- Brie Rotelle

The "A" in RADIO: Adoption

Glen mentioned on Tuesday that “Adoption,” by definition, means to choose, or to make one’s own by selection; to take and rear, or to accept or act in accordance to an accepted principle. After we “reach out” to God—the first term of R.A.D.I.O. —he “adopts” us into His family. God picks us, He isn’t stuck with us. After reading Dr. Seuss’ The Starbelly Sneetches, Glen made the connection between the ethnocentric, or should I say starocentric, sneetches and people. Sometimes we get so caught up in the stuff we have, the clothes we wear, the people we are around and so many other pointless material things. I am guilty of this and sometimes it seems I can’t help but care about the stupid images of what the “ideal teen” is according to the media.

The parallel to the sneetches is obvious. But unlike the sneetches, we believe in God who, in turn, loves us regardless of “stars upon thars” or the strict criteria of this modern generation. Glen said “…it’s not the clothes who make me who I am.” Not the clothes but God’s “ridiculous” grace which we do not deserve.

Life starts when we are adopted into the family of God by his grace, and He will provide all we need to live it. Let’s attend to Glen’s challenge for us this past Tuesday and give it up, whatever it may be, that holds us back from loving God and loving others. Let’s live life booming and crazy-loud; maybe even as loud as a radio.

-- Abby Bush

The "R" in RADIO: Reaching

Students probably don't remember the boomboxes of the 1970s and 80s--maybe only from pictures. They were big as a house, weighing up to 25 lbs., with 16 batteries, hyper-bass and scads of speakers. Like the one pictured above.

They made some serious noise, and everybody in a quarter-mile radius heard you....even felt you. That's how deep and loud the bass boom was from these boxes.

Today, the loud, in-your-face, hear-you-comin-from-a-mile-away boombox has given way to a more "genteel" form of entertainment: the personal stereo. You know it as an iPod, or mp3 player. These technological wonders create the same big sound the boomboxes made, but they make it available ONLY to you. You listen to what you want to listen to, and those around you can't hear a thing. They may not even be aware you're listening to music at all.

Let's say each of these music devices represented the way we live our faith. Which one would best represent your faith?

In the first chapel of Spiritual Life Emphasis Week, Mennonite Church USA's Glen Guyton suggested to Dock students that while the boombox is a technology that has fallen out of fashion, it is by far a better analogy for the way Christians are to live their faith.

"I want you to think about your faith this week," Guyton told students. "It should be big and booming, just like that big old boombox--not some iPod Nano faith."

What kind of faith do you have? Is it like a boombox, out there for all to see and hear and feel? Or is like an iPod--a quiet, I'll-just-keep-this-to-myself kind of faith. If your faith is more like an iPod than a boombox, maybe it's time to let the world know what kind of beat you're listening to. You never know--they may want to dance to it, too.

Talking about boomboxes was also Glen's way of introducing the SLEW theme, R.A.D.I.O. On Monday he discussed the first letter, "R," which stands for "Reach."

"One of the things I have come to understand," he said, "is that God always has his hand out to us. We simply have to say yes, and reach out to him. The spirit of God connects each of us. So reach out to God. Did you give God the summer off? Reach out to him. Reach out to other people. You'll be amazed what God can do."

Setting the Tone: Respect and Reverence

Seniors Andrew Gordon and Natalia Derstine led off the first chapel of the 2010-11 school year by explaining what chapel is all about, and why it's important for all Dock students to consider their attitude toward what happens in this space. "Let us treat this place with the respect that it deserves," they said.

Natalia: Good morning, this is Andrew Gordon.

Andrew: And she’s Natalia Derstine, and we’re both seniors.

Natalia: For some of us, this is about our 270th chapel. For others, this is your first chapel.

Andrew: For those of us at both ends, and everywhere in between, welcome.

Natalia: Chapel is held this time on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday every week. They “will nurture a personal faith that fosters a daily walk with Christ. Chapels will provide opportunities for a variety of worship experiences in the context of Christian community.” It is a time when we gather to worship not only through song, but prayer, scripture, meditation, and a whole bunch of other things.

Andrew: There are occasionally times when the chapel, as a space, will be used for more non-traditional modes such as talent chapels or other things of the like, but they can explain themselves another time.

Natalia: In about 3 minutes, we’re going to open our hymnals up to #1. What Is This Place is a hymn that some of us may feel has taken on a sense of cliché, while others may not know it at all. It is just a tune, mere musical notes, and overlooked lyrics that we sing just to keep up “tradition.”

Andrew: We’re here to dispel this notion. Take the time to actually read the words of the verses and what they have to say. When we say “welcome to chapel,” we mean more than just this time, this space, and this 3rd period. The song is saying that we’re welcoming you to more than just a place with four walls and a roof or just a 33-minute break from the wear and tear of “school.” This is a place of gathering. Chapel is not about the place, but rather about the people. People coming together to meet their Creator and grow in Him.

Natalia: James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” This verse infers a relationship that works both ways, much like a phone. Sure, we can talk all we want; throw guest speakers up on stage, sing until our lungs burst, or do any number of things, but if we don’t listen, how are we to hear what God is saying to us? All we would be doing is making noise.

Andrew: And if all we do is listen, then how is God supposed to know who we are? How is He to know that we are even here?

Natalia: The balance between “talking” and “listening” is only achieved through effort on our part. We need to show a spirit of reverence to God in this place. Reverence is honor or respect that is felt and shown.

Andrew: So when it is said that “chapel requires a spirit of reverence,” this does not necessarily mean the quiet, hands-folded picture that comes to many of our minds, although in some cases that may be appropriate. Rather, reverence is the showing of respect to God. Know your environment, if a certain chapel calls for a silent and reflective nature, follow suit. If a performance, whether it be musical or otherwise, is meant to be clapped for, then clap. If not, then refrain. If the chapel is worship-oriented, show respect by participating in whatever it is that is going on. Whether the music is contemporary or traditional, it doesn’t matter, try them both, you’ll find that the two in harmony create a more full experience than with just one alone. And the more people who sing, the more beautiful the sound, and the less obvious it is to hear how bad both she and I are.

Natalia: It is understood that not every student is going to be interested in every chapel. Whether it is the subject topic is boring you, or the fact that you can’t read music, or whatever, the point is to give each individual chapel respect and full attention. People work countless hours behind the scenes to make these chapels happen, and to have an inattentive audience is like getting jabbed in the side.

Andrew: It is as if you worked on a homework project that took you several hours to complete, and you felt as if you had done a good job. You go into school the next day and present your project to the class only to find that the teacher had marked your paper with an “F,” had then fallen asleep, and only woke up when they heard the other students clapping at the conclusion of your presentation. Gut check.

Natalia: Being reverent has nothing to do with the back of your eyelids, just because you are quiet and keeping to yourself doesn’t necessarily mean you’re being respectful. Sleep is to be a cherished time in your comfortable bed at home, enjoy it there by all means, please, but not here.

Andrew: If we’re sitting here, thinking that we’re making a big sacrifice in our day to take the time to come and sit in chapel, then we have a skewed point of view. It is not us making the big sacrifice, it’s those people that take time out of their day-to-day schedule to share with us what God has placed on their hearts.

Natalia: That being said, with most of today and another 89 chapels in front of us, let us treat this place with the respect that it deserves.

"This is a place of gathering.

Chapel is not about the place, but rather about the people. People coming together to meet their Creator

and grow in Him."

Chapel Themes for 2010-11

This year's chapel committee has worked hard to develop relevant chapel themes for the 2010-11 school year.

Chapel Committee Members include Alyssa Alderfer, Jonathan Bishop, David Brelsford, Abby Bush, Natalia Derstine, Nick Derstine, Diana Gasiewski, Karissa Good Andrew Gordon, Kyle Groff, Becca Hanson, Scott Jung, Drew Kratz, Jaclyn Kratz, Katelyn Kratz, Eddy Nieto, Sarah Roessler, Brie Rotelle, Rachel Ryder, Maria Schweizerhof, Sean Solomon, Adam Spinozzi, Wes Strickland,Sam Thalathoti, and Eleah Weber.

2010-11 Chapel themes include:

August/September

• Welcome/Goal Setting
• Spiritual Practices
• Spirtual Life Emphasis Week (Sept 13-17)

October

• Holy Spirit
• Service & Missions
• Service Day (October 1)

November

• God's Will & Direction
• Faith Stories
• Thanksgiving

December

• Stewardship
• Advent/Christmas

January

• Peace & Non-Resistance
• Equality (culture, age, gender, etc.)

February

• Truth & Integrity
• Media & Technology

March

• Spirtual Life Emphasis Week
• Lent
• Spiritual Gifts

April

• Forgiveness/Conflict Resolution
• Your Body as the Temple of the Holy Spirit

May/June

• Baptism & Commitment to the Church
• The Bible - God's Word to Us
• Senior Reflections

SLEW Wednesday: "Here I am Lord. Send my sister."

“Do as I say, not as I did.” Drs. Priscilla Benner and Herman Sagastume spoke in chapel today on something that is vital to high school students: choosing a career. Both have chosen a path that tied in their passion for Christ with their passion for medicine. They both responded to God’s call despite the internal conflicts that tethered them to their own goals.

Dr. Benner spoke about her lifelong journey to the position she has now. From childhood she knew what she wanted to do. She was one of the kids who ran to see what they could do for the injured kid on the playground instead of one who fled the thought of blood. In high school she had a concrete plan, but then her boyfriend caused her to question her goal. After asking God for an obtuse sign for what or who she should choose failed, God slammed the door on her conflict via the closing of the nursing program at her chosen school. God gave her all the signs; she just needed to read them sooner. She advised us students to look for the God-given talents we have and to discern how to serve him best in the world.

Another piece of advice Dr. Benner gave us was about whose passion we follow. She told us we need to make sure our goals are in sync with God. She was reluctant to go to Honduras in a turbulent time and said her response was, “Here I am, Lord, send my sister.” She was comfortable with her circumstances, but was ultimately rewarded by the MAMA project and all it has accomplished since its beginnings.

Dr. Sagastume’s story began in Honduras long before Dr. Benner ever set foot there. He grew up in a poor family, and had some unimaginable experiences as a youth. He had to see his mother on fire and watch her die shortly after. The comparison of cultures between Honduras and the United States was brought up multiple times. Americans want to get out of the house as young as high school, whereas Dr. Sagastume said Hondurans wanted to life with their parents much beyond.

With some financial assistance Dr. Sagastume made it through medical school. He was then approached to do a mission project in Africa. After thinking it over, he had myriad excuses to get out of it. All of his excuses proved useless, and God provided a way for him to serve. Now Dr. Sagastume uses his gift of medicine to serve with the MAMA project.

-- Monica Roth

SLEW Tuesday: No God, No Good

We are continuing the chapel theme for this week: integrating faith in careers. This morning, Tony DaCosta, head coach of the Dock boys basketball team (see below) and senior vice president at Univest National Bank, touched on this topic. He read from Hebrews 11:1. It says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” He pointed out the faithful obedience of the Old Testament characters referred to later in this passage.

Throughout the chapel, he continually emphasized that God came through when he trusted in Him and lived by faith. Tony began by saying that when God wants you to do something, he’ll adjust the circumstances to make it possible for it to happen. Faith and patience became a necessity throughout his life, and he shared two specific experiences with us. The first was when he wanted to get a position on the basketball team of Portugal. He desired to play on the team as a native, but didn’t have the patience to wait on God to find the right documents. He missed an incredible opportunity.

At this point in Tony’s life, he carried around his Bible but confessed that he didn’t really believe it. Later, he was offered a position on a Puerto Rican team, and fully trusted God to work out the details. He began, not only believing, but putting into practice, the things the Bible had to say about waiting on God. (Like Psalm 27:14. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”) He found that when he did, he was able to play on the Puerto Rican team! He only needed to trust God to make the circumstances possible.

The second time his patience and faith were tried was when his wife was pregnant with their son. Twenty-seven weeks into her pregnancy, Tony’s wife was experiencing discomfort and an elevated blood pressure. When his wife was at the doctor’s, all Tony could do was pray. The circumstance was so unknown to him; but he trusted God. They were sent immediately to Temple, and she had to deliver early because she was at such high health risks. His son was born at 1½ pounds, creating a variety of complications early in his life. But over the years, his son has been able to play soccer, go horseback riding, and more. Tony said this story should encourage us to have faith in God.

Though he didn’t share much with us on how he integrates his faith in banking, he did mention the importance of how you treat customers and remembering to remain faithful to God in all your relationships.

Overall, his advice to the faculty and students was that we shouldn’t expect things to go well for us if we’re not making our plans around God, and trusting Him to carry them through. “No God. No good.”

-- Esther Frustino

SLEW-Monday: Sharing our faith in the workplace

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” -- Matthew 5:14-16

Renita and Jason Shelly have a lot in common—which you would expect, since they’re married and all. They both went to Penn View Christian School; she went to Dock (’93) and played field hockey, while he went to Pennridge and played football. They both followed their parents into the family business; she into the Bergey network of car dealerships, he into the trucking business. They have three kids (see photo, below)

Both feel strongly that faith needs to be lived out on a daily basis, based on the passage from Matthew 5 (above) that Renita quoted during their chapel presentation on the first day of Spiritual Life Emphasis Week.

“We need to be conscious about sharing our faith in the workplace, because there are a lot of opportunities that can be missed if we’re not looking for them,” Jason said. Both he and Renita gave examples from their work settings.

Jason told a story about a homeless man that came up to him at a truckstop years ago and asked if he could clean Jason’s truck. “Now anyone who knows me realizes my truck doesn’t need to be cleaned too often, but I wanted to help this guy out,” he said. Jason went in for dinner and when he came out he noticed the man had been crying; he asked him what was wrong. The man asked Jason, “Are you a Christian?” and when Jason said he was, the man said, “As soon as I started working on your truck, I felt the presence of the Lord.” Jason read to him from the book of Romans while he finished his work.

Renita said she has many opportunities in the course of her work as a car salesperson to speak into people’s lives about her faith. A customer wanted to take a test drive one time and Renita put a Christian music CD into the car’s player. When the woman returned with the car she told Renita how one of the songs she listened to had really spoken to her situation. The woman bought the car, and Renita threw the CD into the deal!

“We need to take Jesus to work,” she said, “and we need to be ready for him to use us.”

2-17-2010 Bread of Life

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

- John 6:51


In today’s chapel, Pastor Sandy Drescher-Lehman and students from Souderton Mennonite Church spoke about different kinds of bread and their meanings. This provided a way for us to think about our relationship with God as we enter the season of Lent. Students and faculty were challenged to think about which bread represents where they are on their spiritual journey, or where they would like to be.


Sourdough Bread is the bread of pain and loss.

Pita Bread is the bread of being open and willing for God to fill us.

Wheat Bread is the bread of letting go of what others might think of us or who we’ve worked hard to be.

Sweet Bread is the bread of joy.

Unleavened Bread is the bread of being willing to trust.


Which kind of bread would you choose?

Which bread represents where you are on your spiritual journey?

2-8-2010: Taking a (Text) Break

Did you know that 8-18 year olds spend, on average, 7.5 hours daily engaged in media? That’s roughly 52 hours a week of “screen time”--more than the average work week!

While all forms of media have an impact on our daily lives, today’s chapel focused specifically on cell phones and texting. Cell phones can be a great asset in case of an emergency and provide the ability to access information almost instantaneously. But texting is a form of communication that should be used wisely and not excessively.

Texting gives us the ability to avoid uncomfortable situations caused by face to face confrontation. But at the same time it can be a source of great confusion since texts are only words and lack the “non-verbal” signals that are present in a face-to-face conversation or even in a phone conversation. If a text is misunderstood, it cannot be corrected in “real time” as in a verbal conversation; it might take 10 texts in order to clear up the misunderstanding.

Texting also affects our listening ability. For example, if you try to carry on a face to face conversation with someone while texting to someone else, it can become confusing (and maybe even hurtful) to all parties. Communicating only by texts can also affect how many true friendships we have in which we can share deep conversations and feelings.

Challenge yourself to set aside some “text-free” time during your week, especially as we enter the season of Lent.

1-29-10: How Would You Be Named Today?

“What would your family, friends, teachers, and peers name you today based on your behavior?” This question, posed by today’s chapel speaker, Mary Keller, is based on the Native American (Native Peoples) concept of naming a person. In Native Peoples’ traditions, a person has multiple names: a secret name given by the mother at birth and known only by the mother and the Creator; and common names that change throughout life based on that person’s temperament, behavior, talents, or actions. Sometimes these names are not always flattering.

Imagine the impact in the world if people were referred to by their actions – “He Who Steals” or “She Who Lies.” Or in a more positive light, “He Who is a Peacemaker” or “She Who Embodies Goodness.”

In a Native Peoples story, a grandfather tells his grandson that there are two wolves within him that are in constant conflict; one who is angry and hateful, and one that is full of joy and goodness. The grandson asks, “Which one of the wolves wins?” Replies the grandfather: “The one that I feed.”

This story illustrates the potential each person has to fuel hate and anger or to create beauty and peace. Today think about your actions and how they reflect upon you. How would you feel to be named by what you have done today?

1-11-10: "Think about your God moments"

Most high school students don't spend much time thinking about what it's like to retire and grow old. In this morning's chapel, two Dock Woods residents, both in their 80s, gave students a window into the experience—and assured them there's nothing to be afraid of.

“Living doesn’t stop when we age. Life is just different,” said Joyce Shultz, who has lived at Dock Woods with her husband Harlan for nearly four years now. “We take more time to do things, but we have more time. Our faith is often stronger because we have had so many blessings and answers to our prayers. We no longer feel like we have to impress anyone—and we realize that we never did. And we realize that life has more joy when you are helping and serving others.”

The Shultz's give evidence to the idea that life begins—or at least begins again—at retirement. Harlan spent three years in the Navy and then enjoyed a 35-year career at Standard Pressed Steel. When he retired at at age 62, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by getting his pilot's license, and spent over a year building his own plane.

"My life has been full," he told students. "You have a lot to look forward to. Don't dread it."

Joyce was a teacher in the North Penn School District for 24 years. When she retired at age 60 she began a second career as a psychotherapist, and also took up writing. She now is the author or co-author of three books, including Models in Our Midst, an autobiography which also tells stories about the people who influenced her life, and It Takes a Church: God Moments of a Church Family, a collection of stories from people ages 13-90 at her church, Sanctuary United Methodist in North Wales. They are the kind of books she encourages everyone to write.

"Each evening we share our God moments from the day, and I keep them in a gratitude journal," Joyce said. "That’s our challenge—to think each day about the God moments in our lives and what we are grateful for.”

1-4-10: "In Him There is No Darkness at All"

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over. The packages have been opened, the parties thrown, and the last of the pork and sauerkraut has been eaten. It seems as though were have been abruptly hurdled into a period of quiet and dark. But in today’s chapel we were reminded that this short church season of Epiphany is a burst of light in that darkness. It is a reminder that the light will return as we move through the cold, dark months of January, February, and March, and into the Easter season.

Even in our times of darkness, whether a physically earthly darkness or a period of emotional turmoil, we are never alone. To demonstrate this point, Mr. Bush shared a portion of a sermon entitled Thoughts on Day and Night, given by Sr. Pastor Michael B. Brown of Central UMC, Asheville, NC, in the early 1990s (Bergland):

"We deal with anger, rejection, grief, fear, economic stress, isolation, guilt, divorce, abusive relationships, chemical dependency, depression…and the list goes on. And most of all we fear that there is no way out – that we are abandoned to our pain – that night has fallen, and dawn will never come, and we are desperately alone. To those fears our morning lesson says: 'Darkness covers the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept…Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’; and there was light' (vv. 2-3). In other words, in our loneliness, we are not alone. The Spirit of God is present and moving. In our darkness, there is the promise of light. In our struggles, there is the unfailing love and nearness of one who is greater that whatever the world can throw our way.

"In the beautiful North Carolina mountains there is a host of stories about Native Americans indigenous to our region. I have always loved the one about the ritual of initiation for Cherokee boys who were crossing into manhood. Around age ten or eleven, the youngster would be taken by his father deep into the Pisgah forest. Dad would give his son a bow and one arrow. As darkness descended, the father would leave his son alone in the forest to prove his bravery by facing the frightening sounds of the night. Most of the young boys did not sleep much. Every hoot of an owl sounded like a threatening voice. Every cracking twig conjured up images of a bear or bobcat on the prowl. Every rush of wind sounded like whispers of the enemy in the forest. However, when daylight began to break, the young brave would spot another Cherokee off in the distance beside a tree. It would be his father, who had been there all night long, sitting silently nearby, watching, making certain that his child never actually had to face the darkness alone.

"So it is with us. However dark and desperate things may feel, God is near – always watching, always caring, always protecting us from facing the darkness alone – and always promising that in due time God will separate the darkness from the light, and the dawn of joy and peace will break upon our weary souls again. It will happen for you, however you may doubt it. God has not abandoned you to the nighttime. It will happen. The voice will sound: 'Let there be light!' And in time your shadows will disappear.”

Remind yourself as you are going about your daily routine that no matter how tough things get, you are never alone.

Bergland, John K., ed. Abington Preacher’s Annual 1994. Nashville: Abington Press, 1993.

www.cumbavac.org/Earth_Day.htm