In life we learn about ourselves as separate individuals, following separate paths. I believe that in death we will learn the paradoxical, complementary truth which in life we only glimpse: that we are all one.

We may be richer or poorer, but God will still be walking with us every day in all of life’s situations. It’s what God has done for us lately, and what God will always do.

Readers were encouraged to ‘not forget to show hospitality to strangers,’ but then an unusual motivation was added: because sometimes the strangers to whom we show hospitality are actually angels in disguise. We might chuckle and say, ‘I’ve never seen an angel.’ But who really knows with strangers? Better to be on the safe side.

John 14 finds Jesus talking to his disciples about connection. He’s been closely connected to them for three years, a pretty long gestation period. But soon he’ll leave them: death, resurrection, and then—well, we’re still living in the then.

Being on the outside of a wall is distasteful to anyone on the inside, but Paul says that’s not how it is any longer. In Christ, the wall between insiders and outsiders is destroyed.

We all have stories of times God burst into our lives. Most don’t involve blinding lights and voices from heaven, but some do. And some consist of quiet moments when God whispered, or maybe God just sat with us on a park bench. Who will tell your story? I think it begins with you.

If you look closely, you can imagine an unprogrammed Quaker meeting happening in Deuteronomy 31. Moses and Joshua gather at the Tent of Meeting to listen to God together. Perhaps we can imagine this as waiting worship, where Friends gather expecting to hear from God, believing and knowing God to be present.

If we are to take heart in the face of all the crying needs and find some rest for our souls, we must each, first of all, seek leadings as to very concrete, specific ways to respond to these needs that are in tune with our gifts and strengths. We must put our beliefs into action.

The expectant observer sees God’s presence in the assembly’s ability to reach consensus about God’s will. Deliberations work best when those involved listen for what they agree on.

We know we are in the presence of God when the circle expands to include those whom tradition has always excluded. We know we are in the presence of God when justice rolls down like water.

The ingredients for a life-altering moment are present on this wilderness road: two Spirit-filled human beings encounter one another.

If empathy is defined as ‘an action taken because of a sensitivity to the experience and feelings of another,’ then our story is a wonderful example of empathy-in-motion.

We look again at the widow.... By repeatedly showing up in court and demanding that justice be granted, she is participating in the on-going divine demand for justice for all people.