I wish you could have all been along that afternoon in southern Mexico. It was a beautiful day and there is nothing better than a good lunch and then a nature hike after church.

My wife and I were in middle of a year of volunteer work in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. We had driven an old Chevy Nova down there, so we were able to occasionally get away. We had found some other young 'gringos' up in mountains of Chiapas and spent most of our available weekends with them.

This time, we went with them to a church that they had helped to build. It was in a very pretty mountain valley. It seated about 300 people and was a great new addition to local ministry. While they had been there with building project, they had found this place to hike and wanted to show it to us.

We parked at end of a road and started off over a flat area. Being nosy naturalist that I am, I soon found a flat rock to turn over. Under it was a mother scorpion with a back full of tiny babies. She looked like a little wind-up toy. She scuttled around looking for cover.

Soon we came to edge of a deep ravine. At one end of ravine was a waterfall. There was about a quarter mile where river ran fairly level and then went over another waterfall. It was a perfect place to explore.

On steep climb down ravine, it was amazing to see that this side of steep bank was actually a farm. It was so steep that if you stood straight up, you could almost touch ground just by stretching out your hand. But, hard working farmers had cleared it and had planted corn there.

When we got to river, it was plain to see that good exploring was on other side of river. There was a place where there was a rock about six feet tall. At base of rock, river was pressed into a narrow channel. At that point we were able to jump across.

On other side, there was a large flat bedrock area. On edge of it other side of ravine was a steep cliff. It was covered with trees, moss and ferns. In trees and rocks were orchids and bromeliads. It was an amazing place.

First, I would like for all to know that my prayers are with world, families, nations, volunteers, workers and just everybody. I am asking Almighty God to lead us, heal us, bring us closer together and work a miracle in all our lives.

We do not represent grief counseling nor are we certified.

I am not a Pastor, Minister nor Clergy.

My only hope and resource is Divine Holy Bible, Inspired Written Word of God.

I would like to travel back in time to about A.D. 96 or A.D. 68.My traveling will take me to The Island of Patmos and I am thinking on Revelation first through seventh chapter.

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before throne, and before Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.

Revelations 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall sun light on them, nor any heat.

Revelations 7:17 For Lamb which is in midst of throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

It is human to be in grief. I have never met a person yet that has been able to escape experience of grief.

The book of Job 2:13 tells me that "So they sat down with him upon ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him; for they saw that his grief was very great.

"There is no school that I have heard of yet that can teach you how to master grief. Diaster is a sudden, unexpected guest that we do not want to meet.

The book of Acts 27:10,14 tells me that "This voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of lading and ship, but also of our lives. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

"Seven Epistles addressed to churches of seven cities of Asia, named in chapters one and two, and now written to in same order, beginning with Ephesus and ending with Laodicea.

The apostle wrote to 7 churches in Asia, and maybe others were touched by what he wrote. The number 7 stands for unity/completion in my understanding; and 7 churches as mentioned in John's revelations must represent one universal church.