And we KNOW some of those hearts. The book from which we read our Old Testament lesson, Job, is the story of a man whose life tumbles in. Then he loses it all - property destroyed, business ruined, children dead, and finally his own body covered with sores. As a matter of fact, there are some things we might learn about offering comfort and consolation to our friends from what we read here. The first thing to note is that they came.
Some communities are wonderful in responding to tragedy.
Years ago, in my first church after seminary, I noted two inexplicable miracles in my Christian experience. The second was how it was possible that I could be called to a home immediately after a death in the congregation, dropping what ever I was doing to dash over, only to find that a dozen church members had beaten me there, half of them with a hot casserole, fried chicken, or a cake in hand. I still do not understand that. Years ago, following the death of my father, I received a note in the mail from Bert Yancey. As some of you may recall, Bert was a professional golfer who, by this time, had retired from the Tour and was now teaching.