On the last day of vacation I had hand surgery to correct a not uncommon malady called Dupuytren's Contracture. It went well, though I'll look like a boxer for awhile until the bandages are removed. It struck me as a timely metaphor, this functioning for a few days essentially with one hand. One re-learns to ask for help and to .get by., albeit awkwardly. Just having written the above article about supporting Trinity, I think we as church are being given the grace to ask without apology for help and to .get by. without neglecting what is core to our life in Christ. The core is that we can still pray, we are blessed by caring, attentive people. We can still think (somewhat compromised by meds) and take nourishment. And we can still speak up for others who are or who may be at risk.

I think about Paul's words: We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2

It is not difficult for me to imagine someone one day writing about this chapter in our synod's story: We want you to know about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod… Even with one hand, look at what God accomplished through them!