Note: On Tuesdays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
Human life is always fragile, and the past few months have attuned us to that. Things are going along in an unremarkable way, and then we or someone we love or know (or a friend loves and knows) dies of a disease we were only dimly aware of six months ago. New lives are stalled because weddings can’t go on. Big changes are delayed, if not canceled, because the company that was going to hire or promote us is downsizing or gone.
All this fragility may be leading you to spend more time in contemplation and prayer (there are only so many jigsaw puzzles that can be 
completed, only so much chocolate that can be consumed), and perhaps wondering about your readiness for your own death or the Last Judgment or why God let any or all of this happen. If that is the case, read carefully 2 Peter 3. The chapter (NRSVCE citations) is filled with words of compassion and encouragement—and instruction:
- “… we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home” (2 Peter 3:13)
- “… strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish” (2 Peter 3:14)
- “… be aware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability” (2 Peter 3:17)
- “… grow in grace” (2 Peter 3:18)
And perhaps most importantly:
- “… regard the patience of our Lord as salvation” (2 Peter 3:14)
If we believe, there is nothing to fear in this world… because God’s love is never fragile, in this world or in the next.
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