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Actress Ann Julian's struggle with cancer and her resulting double mastectomy has been much publicized. The inducement for Ann's openness was to encourage and support others who are enduring a similar ailment. Ann's husband, Andy, extends the same sympathy to the public. His sentiment is best expressed in a comment he made after viewing President Reagan on television. The newscast showed the president lugging a potted plant to his wife Nancy, a patient at Bethesda Naval Hospital who also had a mastectomy. Observing Ronald Reagan's concern for his beloved spouse, Andy concurred, "I felt sorry for him simply a guy, just like you and me. He may be the President of the United States, but at that moment he was a husband worried about his wife."
Often there is a single line of scripture that captures one's heart. The line has the most significance when placed in the context of the entire text in which it was printed, but often we like to lift it out, allow it to live singularly, as our own testimony of faith and hope. One special line that speaks to everyone who is experiencing some form of anguish or difficulty is Isaiah 42:6, "I will take hold of your hand."
On this liturgical day when we celebrate the baptism of Jesus this line, which is part of our lectionary reading, has even more significance. God blessed his Son with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, as a dove, came down from heaven and rested gently upon Jesus' shoulder. In essence, God held the hand of Jesus.
So, as Andy observed, be we president or commoner, we all seek the same comforting presence from the Lord and others.
Often there is a single line of scripture that captures one's heart. The line has the most significance when placed in the context of the entire text in which it was printed, but often we like to lift it out, allow it to live singularly, as our own testimony of faith and hope. One special line that speaks to everyone who is experiencing some form of anguish or difficulty is Isaiah 42:6, "I will take hold of your hand."
On this liturgical day when we celebrate the baptism of Jesus this line, which is part of our lectionary reading, has even more significance. God blessed his Son with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, as a dove, came down from heaven and rested gently upon Jesus' shoulder. In essence, God held the hand of Jesus.
So, as Andy observed, be we president or commoner, we all seek the same comforting presence from the Lord and others.
