The jazz music this morning in church was flexible somewhat under structured with solo and ensemble improvisations. Yet, every note touched my soul. I experienced my Lord’s presence, His love, and His peace and I loved Him back. I didn’t want the experience to end.

As I was leaving church, thoughts began disrupting my peace. For the last month, I have been working with The Genesis Women’s Shelter. An alarming statistic started playing over and over in my mind, one out of every three women/adolescent girls, in the United States, experiences domestic violence. I could go on and on about why this happens. I could also go on and on about treatment. Instead, I want to ask a question. How would these women’s lives be different, if everyone worshiped, “…the Lord their God with all of their soul?” (Mark 12:30) How would your life be different?

Fondly,
Sharron Thurlkill, M.Ed., LPC
Lutheran Counseling Services