You are not really alone

Have you heard the story of how children are initiated into adulthood among First Nations? It is called a SOLO. The child is taken from the safety and comfort of his or her family and is lead out into the wilderness. There they are told that they must spend the coming night alone. They are left to their own devises.

You can imagine what an ordeal this might be. To untrained senses and to an unleased imagination, every sound would seem to foretell an attack by some fearsome night predator, and every shadow would conjure up a demon.

But, as day breaks and the sun rises, the child's first sight is their father! There in the darkness, standing silently just out of sight, all night long the father has stood, bow and arrow ready, watching over and protecting his child.

For you and I, as well, The Father is there all along, watching over us and protecting us from all harm. Let us run into his arms, crying with delight, "Father, you were there all along!"