All the Way to God-forsakenness

In a certain African village a young boy brought a gift to his teacher. It was an exquisite sea shell. And the teacher asked, “Where did you find such a beautiful shell?” The little body responded that he found it and collected it himself. To which the teacher exclaimed, “But it is such a long walk from our village to the sea and beach! You walked all that way?” And the boy proudly and affectionately re-sponded with a smile on his face, “The long walk is a part of the gift.” Indeed! And this morning we will contemplate a part of the greatest gift ever given…