Serving Bread

Every now and then, I see glimpses of faith in the media that capture the gospel better than any televangelist or Christian activist can articulate. A couple years ago, it came in the form of the Amish community who struggled to respond to the violent rampage of a gunman who killed their children in a schoolhouse. We were amazed that these men and women responded with love to the evil that had infected their tight-knit community.

Two weeks ago, we saw grace and faith in Dong Yun Yoon who lost everything when a F18 crashed into his home, destroying his belongings and killing his wife, mother-in-law, and two young children. In face of unspeakable pain and disaster, Yoon showed that love and not evil would triumph. The LA Times published a fantastic op-ed piece interpreting the lessons of the disaster. The writer parallels Yoon’s story to that of Horatio Spafford who penned the hymn, “It is well with my soul.” Spafford had suffered great tragedies in his life, which came to a climax when his four daughters drowned on a ship headed to England. His wife sent him a message, “Saved alone… What shall I do?”

On his way to England, Horatio wrote his hymn, which had been inspired by Romans 8.28, “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord.”

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea-billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Whether peace or sorrows rule our day, may we confess that “it is well with my soul.”