Dear Will:

Try as I might, I can’t seem to think about much else but war these days. It leaves me sad and troubled, especially as I allow myself to imagine the worst of where all this could lead. I am by nature an optimistic guy, but I confess that my disposition is being tested.

I catch myself looking at my kids a lot as I seek unsuccessfully to quell my inner turmoil. My oldest son is 12, too young to be threatened by all this, but still—I can’t help but wonder, What if . . . ? I see teary parents on the news who have lost a son already in this conflict, and when I put myself in their place, I feel the tears start to come.

I am reminded of the words of a favorite hymn, never more appropriate than now:

Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart, searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows, where when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand? He, only One.

He answers privately, reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace He finds for my beseeching.
Constant He is and kind, love without end.

                                                –Emma Lou Thayne

As I transcribe these words it occurs to me that I may have shared them before. But no matter. They give me some comfort, and so I share them without reservation. More than anything I hope that you remember that in troubled times our faith in God transcends our earthly struggles. Although in times of war I may look upon my children with some sadness, I also do so with some measure of reassur­ance, knowing that ultimately they will remain within His care. I pray that our soldiers may feel that as well.

PW