Dare to believe

I was listening to a knitting podcast today. The author of the podcast is doing a series based on the muses from Greek mythology and how each one relates to knitting. The discussion today was about Melpomene. She is the muse related to tragedy. One of the essays on the podcast talked about how the two concepts -- knitting and tragedy -- could be related. The muse was originally the muse of singing. The author believes that the muse is misunderstood. Thought of as the muse of tragedy, she is really the muse who helps people through tragedy.

Forget the idea of a muse for a moment. Think about Christianity. How can knitting be related to tragedy? How can a knitter begin to believe that the products of sticks and string can possible bring comfort to someone in grief? Ever seen the products of a group of prayer shawl knitters? How can anyone doubt that there is a link? That knitting can bring comfort?

In this time when misguided (to use a kind word) people believe that God would bring tragedy to Haiti, the question becomes important. Our God is not one of tragedy. Our God is one who brings comfort -- who will bring us through tragedy. Our God is the one who can transform yarn into comfort. Our God is the God who will take our meager offerings and transform them into something that makes a difference. Because of God we can dare to believe that one person can make a difference.