A famous Russian story centers on a man who was born in a region north of Ukraine.^[1] His life was filled with suffering and loss.

●      When he was three and his brother was ten, his parents died. He and his brother were taken in by their grandfather, who raised them.

●      When the brother became a teenager, he became unruly and began drinking heavily. Once, the older brother pushed his younger brother and permanently damaged the younger brother’s arm. The younger brother lost all use of his arm.

●      Eventually, the grandfather found a wife for the younger brother. Upon his death, he left his home and property to the younger brother and wife. The older brother, jealous that the grandfather had left everything to the younger brother, set fire to the house one night. The younger brother and his wife barely escaped.

●      They were now destitute, without any clothing or money. For two years they lived as landless peasants, selling the handiwork which the wife was able to sew.

●      Then, she became ill. And she, too, died.

This poor man had now suffered the loss of his parents, the injury to his arm, estrangement from his brother, the loss of his grandfather, the loss of his home, and the loss of his wife. Overcome with grief, the husband took his Bible, and set off on a pilgrimage, searching for meaning and purpose in life.Unbroken: Finding Divine Resources through Enduring Prayer in Everyday Life (1 Thess 5:17) Chris Altrock – May 14, 2017