James looked down at the pulpit. “The spirit of the place astounds the joy of it all. The reception bestowed upon us is surely of Your making and the generosity of those who have received us. We are blessed to be here, to use our hearts and hands to honor, to serve, to sow the seed.

“All men walk in the shadows of uncertainty, and it was with anxious concern that we set forth on our journey. We have been taught that it is without faith that we stumble and fall and cannot get up; and it is without community that we fear the darkness. But here, in this remote freckle on your bountiful earth, we have found solace. We have found a comfort among strangers and a beacon of light from a community so strong that no shadow shall do us harm, no matter how wide it’s cast. Nor shall it prevent us from living the life You have created for us to serve in Your name and to enjoy Your wondrous and abundant gifts. We thank You Lord, in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the opportunity before us. Your humble and faithful servant”—he looked up at the congregation—“Samuel Pearce.”

In the silence held by the congregation, James held up the charred Bible he’d found at the Pearce farm.

Gasps rolled across the congregants as realization took hold.

James stepped from the pulpit and moved to the center of the altar. “From the ashes of that tragedy: Lasting words. A personal preface to the everlasting words of God, Almighty. You see, the dark events that happen in our lives, those aren’t hurdles He puts before us to see how high we can jump or how hard we stumble. No, our God is more loving than that, He’s smarter than that.

“No, those hurdles are the way we choose to look at the bad stuff in our lives, those dark shadows that cast doubt and fear. All too often we get so caught up, so intertwined and knotted up in the threads of our lives we forget to look at the bigger picture, the entire weaving of His fabric.

“Now I don’t know about you, but when I pull those covers over me on a cold winter’s night, I don’t want to depend on one single, measly, tiny little thread to keep me warm. No, I want that entire blanket to smother me and comfort me. If I don’t, I’ll freeze my butt off!”

Chuckles filled the church.