By Laurabeth Harris, Charlotte Fellows Interim Director
We started this year with cautious optimism. Covid was still in the forefront of our minds as we planned to continue the program in person. The board had thought through every practical situation and made plans to prevent and protect this year’s group as best they could. Covid was the enemy for which we planned and prepared.
Little did we know that our plans and energy would be needed in other areas. Connice, who has led the program the last 5 years, would be called to fight against a different enemy. In early October, Connice learned that her daughter had been diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma. Sadly, this occurred in her last year as director, and Connice stepped to the side to care for her daughter. Now more than ever, her words of last year ring true: “These are uncertain times and we don’t know what the future holds. My prayer for us all is that when we can’t see God’s hand or what He’s doing or the plan, that we can trust His Heart! His heart for us is good and true and certain!”
We continue to see the truth of last year's verse come alive. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps.” This is true for both the Dyars and the Charlotte Fellows program. We don’t understand or know what the Lord is doing, but we trust Him and His promise found in Psalm 16, “O Lord, you are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; you maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance.”
So, where do we go from here? While we miss and long to have Connice back with us, we see her gentle hand of leadership in the verse that she assigned to the group for the year. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. This verse tells us exactly what our next step is: we are to carry on rejoicing and praying no matter what the circumstances we find ourselves. The circumstances might be challenging and seem impossible, but we can rejoice in who we know God to be and pray without stopping.