The Valley of the Shadow of Death

The death toll is rising. Rising in the United States and rising among my community. The numbers are staggering. It is no longer far away. It’s close to home. People I know are dying. Not just people I know, but people who look like me. People who have pre-existing conditions. High blood pressure, overweight, history of heart disease and diabetes in the family. Wait . . . that’s me – check, check, check. We entered holy week with these harsh realities. Much like a certain Jewish carpenter did thousands of years ago. The task before him was daunting. He ate dinner with his betrayer and begged the Father to release…