Frozen

It seems obvious to me that when it is 35 below outside, the world freezes. Things just seem to stop working. Pipes freeze up. Otherwise reliable cars do not want to start. People don't want to come out as much. Things just seem to become frozen. Sometimes our lives of faith are like that. They freeze up, get brittle, have a hard time starting on their own. That's why a community of faith is so important. Our churches, our friendships with other people of faith keep us from freezing up in our spiritual lives. When our hearts have frozen solid, when it seems that our compassion is getting brittle, other people of faith help thaw our hearts and warm us again. The prayers of others carry us when our faith seems to have gotten cold. In the midst of a frozen season, the words of a hymn can light a fire in our souls. At times when God might seem so ultimately far away, then others can help draw us closer to the fire of God's love and grace.