And that's true with our participation in the life of a congregation as well. For after all, it doesn't usually turn out that we prove our devotion to Christ in some moment of great sacrifice. The truth is, that it is easy to know the rapture of a great moment of religious experience. It is much harder to walk and not faint. As far as I am aware, there is nothing in the Bible that promises constant light and bliss and happiness to those who follow the way of Christ.
Courage is what is called for.
And it takes a lot of courage to be a human being. When you hold an infant in your arms, you realize that the child does not know that yet. Maybe its your granddaughter. Looking into her eyes it is easy to see that she does not know anything about arthritis or cancer or airplane crashes, or depression. She does not lie awake at night worrying about her relationships, or her job, or her death.