In this day of overwhelming defeatism, we look longingly for the absolute victory. Paul declares it in today's Scripture: "Nay, (even) in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Do you believe that? If you do, you are more steady in the midst of the collapse all around you.

A great pessimism has to be conquered by a great faith. Edith Lovejoy Pierce uncovers a challenging insight:

Even though we escape now
We shall not escape
Turning a key in a lock,
Dropping a well-placed bomb,
Signing a paper:
Nothing so simple.
No flip of the coin
Or toss of the dice:
it goes deeper than that.
Even though we escape now
We shall not escape.
Too long have we blasphemed the name,
Lifted to our lips the chalice of empty form,
Drinking damnation.
Even though we escape now
W…