The other day in the parish office, Thelma handed me a sheet of paper; a copy of the "Movin' Out" magazine. "The Journal of the Trucking Industry."  It was one single sheet but filled with a lovely story, a 'prayer' if you will from a rather historical U.S. figure I suspect very few people have ever heard of.  I'd like to share a bit about this gentleman and also share his beautiful and pointed piece about...God!

"Robert E. Harris, 'The Circuit Rider,' was the nations' last practicing circuit rider preacher until his death in 2007.  His ministry took him to numerous towns throughout western North Carolina as well as rest areas along I-40.

"God Really is Everywhere."

"Retrospective reveals that God has never failed us.  So many times in this life we are tempted to accuse God of failure.  Sometimes we wonder if God really loves us when we see the situations we get into and seemingly there's no way out.  Then we ask, 'Where is God?'

The answer to, 'Where is God?' is this:  God is EVERYWHERE.  He is like radio and television but you have to have your set turned on.  Your heart is the receiver of God.  Not only does the set have to be turned on, but it has to be tuned in until there is no static.  When a person lives with nothing between the world and the Savior, he can know that God is a rewarder of all who diligently seek Him.

God once told Samuel, "Your have prayed  and wept all night and I am not going to change my mind.  The thing for you to do is to get up and go on and do what I have told you to do."

Gracious Heavenly Father, help us to live in the Light of the Word for Jesus' sake.  Amen."

These words of Robert E. Harris echo the very words I preached just a few weeks ago:  Jesus never has left our side.  Jesus has always been and always will be ever so close to us.  We need only reach out and we can almost "touch Him," as He walks beside us.

Our faith must never cower to thoughts of being abandoned or neglected by Jesus.  I realize, better than most perhaps, that there are times we all feel as if we are left alone, to fend for ourselves.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  I know it.  You know it.  We just have to keep remembering that this was Jesus' promise to us, " I will always be with you, even until the end of the ages."  (Matt. 28: 20)

Let us all embrace the full, lasting and eternal presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus our Most Holy Redeemer.  I find comfort and peace knowing that when seemingly, things are so out of control, that in the midst of all that is going on around me, Jesus is there, guiding and strengthening me. It is this reassuring presence that keeps me going; that gives me the courage to endure and the wisdom to move ever forward and onward.  I hope and pray we all have this very same degree of faith and confidence...it is life saving!