Power can corrupt, and it appears that David has forgotten that he was anointed king to be an example and inspiration to others. Once people begin to use others for their own ends, terrible things can happen. David has an affair with Bathsheba and arranges to have her husband killed. The awful reckoning comes later when the prophet Nathan confronts David with the full enormity of his actions. No one is immune from sin, even those in high places in government or in the church. David repents, and although he was guilty of many things in his life, he remained dear to God's heart. He has been called "saint and sinner" and in a sense that is what we are. We are a mixture of light and darkness, positive and negative. We should not be discouraged or give in to self-hatred. It is important that we follow the example of David by returning to the Lord with all our heart and beginning anew regardless of how many mistakes we have made. Let us encourage the light within us to grow stronger and brighter each day.

We do not usually change in sudden and dramatic ways. Our thoughts, prayers and acts of kindness and compassion all act as seeds or leaven in our hearts and souls. Our spiritual growth is a quiet and steady process, requiring great patience and persistence.

If we pay attention to the opportunities we are given each day to practice our spirituality, we (and others!) will soon notice that we are somehow different.