Hope for the Downcast

Mt. Angel, Oregon

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As many of you know, my wife, Janice, is from Mt. Angel, Oregon, a small community most commonly know for its Oktoberfest.  It's a predominantly Roman Catholic community with both a Benedictine abbey and convent; each established in the early 1880's.

I've made numerous trips to the abbey which is set on a hill overlooking the Willamette Valley.  It is a place of peace.  You don't see many people at the abbey.  Every once in a while a Benedictine brother dressed in black will walk the brick path to the chapel or some other building.  These brothers don't interrupt your time at the abbey.  Instead, they provide benches on which to sit, to pray and to take in the beauty of God's creation.

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."  Psalm 42:11 English Standard Version

What prompted the psalmist's question was another question; the question of his antagonist.  "Where is your God?" (v. 3)  When tragedy strikes people are quick to ask, "Where is your God?"  God gets the blame and it seems that we often don't have an answer.  We're left speechless.  We might even feel that we've failed God because we cannot respond.

I find this statue of Jesus an inviting Jesus who draws us into his rest.  We don't have to have all the answers.  What we possess is a Savior who is our hope.  He invites us to sit, to pray and to take a peek at the beauty of his grace.

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You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes broadcast on The iB Network Internet radio station every Sunday at 8:00 & 11:30 am, as well as, 1:00 & 8:00 pm MDT (www.ibnetwork.us). You can also listen to the show using the Tunin app on your mobile device.  

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.