Mary’s Musings: a second of kindness can touch a soul for a lifetime

By Mary Bridges

Chaplain

Our 25-year-old grandson recently came for a visit. In March of 2020, he moved back to Boston where he grew up. The onset of the pandemic changed his circumstances, and he spent most of the past two years homeless. As he shared his experiences, it became apparent that he feels hopeless about the state of the world. This may be partially due to the difference in our ages and our life experiences, and it can’t help that Americans have become polarized on numerous issues.  

After our visit, I spent some time Googling words and phrases that came up in our conversation. My searches led me to a 1991 song by Michael Jackson called “Heal the World.” Here are some of my favorite lines: “There's a place in your heart/ And I know that it is love/ And this place could be much brighter than tomorrow/ In this place, you'll feel there’s no hurt or sorrow … Heal the world/ Make it a better place/For you and for me and the entire human race/ There are people dying/ If you care enough for the living/ Make a better place for you and for me.”

My grandson and I spent some time trying to agree about the most important events in history. In a few weeks, Christians around the world will once again celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s my belief that this is the number one, most world-changing event, which is the cornerstone of our Christian faith.

I close with this verse from Romans 15:13, which is one of my go-to verses during hard times:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

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