A while back, I was sitting here at Sandy Cove, looking out at the river, and thinking. I was trying to imagine what it would feel like to come back for a visit in 20 or 30 years (assuming I am not still working here then). I’m sure I would notice changes.

I’m going to tell you three things about myself, and ask you which one is the hardest to believe.

“Take a long walk on a short dock!” is a snappy schoolyard retort, good for voicing our frustrations toward the antagonist of the moment. It can also work just as well for self-pity purposes (and when eating worms isn’t going to get the job done.) “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll take a long walk on a short dock.”

When divorce happens, lives get turned upside down. What was normal becomes strange; what was predictable becomes uncertain. For the single parent dealing with such a shift, it is reassuring to hear repeatedly the grounding truths found in Scripture.

Church-based Small Groups are a vital part of spiritual growth. If you're a Small Group leader, you believe this, so you're working hard to nurture the relationships and spiritual vitality of participating members. Your group is probably much more to you than a Christian responsibility; it probably feels more like a family—which is exactly how it should be.

The grief of divorce shouldn't be hurried or glossed over. The pain and rearrangement of life that comes with divorce is devastating, and working through all of it can take longer than one would imagine. It's much more than a broken relationship; it's a complete life change.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by life, like you can't do anything right or keep anything straight? Are you feeling hopeless because your purpose seems unclear or uncertain?