Do you remember Corrie Ten Boom from the book and  movie, The Hiding Place? When she was a little girl in Holland, her first realization of death came after a visit to the home of a neighbor who had died. It impressed her that some day her parents would also die. Corrie’s father comforted her with words of wisdom.

“Corrie, when you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?”

“Why, just before we get on the train,” she replied.

“Exactly,” her father said, “and our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things too. Don’t run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need — just in time.”

That is absolutely true.  God will always give you the strength necessary for the living of your days.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. for the 10th Annual Lake Oconee “Blessing of the Animals.”  I hope you can join me at the Reynolds Plantation Pointe Pavilion for this wonderful service.  Bring your pets and have them blessed. This year we are also collecting dog and cat food for those in financial need in the Lake Oconee area to be distributed by the Oconee Regional Humane Society.  Please bring your donation with you.  Hope to see you there.  Wishing you much love and much light.

The Rev. David W. Key, director of the Baptist Studies Program, is involved in recruitment, admissions, student life, counseling, placement, and development functions for Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He teaches in the Contextual Education program. He is the founding pastor of the Lake Oconee Community Church at Reynolds Plantation. Contact him at (404) 727-6350 or dkey@emory.edu. His column appears weekly in this space.