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Faith is the assurance of things
hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11.1
"The
fields were parched and brown from lack of rain, and the crops
lay wilting from thirst. People were anxious and irritable as
they searched the sky for any sign of relief. Days turned
into arid weeks. No rain came.
The
ministers of the local churches called for an hour of prayer
on the town square the following Saturday. They requested
that everyone bring an object of faith for inspiration.
At high
noon on the appointed Saturday the townspeople turned out EN
MASSE, filling the square with anxious faces and hopeful
hearts. The ministers were touched to see the variety of
objects clutched in prayerful hands-holy books, crosses,
rosaries.
When
the hour ended, as if on magical command, a soft rain began to
fall. Cheers swept the crowd as they held their treasured
objects high in gratitude and praise. From the middle of the
crowd one faith symbol seemed to overshadow all the others: A
small nine-year-old child had brought an umbrella." (By Saint
Augustine, from the Chicken Soup for
Christians)
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