Those of you of a certain age may remember the popular video game called “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” A global spy series designed to teach kids geography and to inspire curiosity, it is now available as a “retro game” through its app.

Even if you’re not searching around the world for Carmen Sandiego, you may from time to time look at the news and dare to ask or at least privately wonder: “Where in the world is God?” I don’t intend to be sacrilegious in posing this question, but rather to acknowledge the way we all feel after one too many stories of atrocity, war, global warming, and the like. Reminds me of the refrain from the old spiritual…”Oh, sometimes, it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble….”

As the name of this newsletter, “Sentinel,” and this column, “Horizons,” remind, part of our work as people of faith is to look to the far horizons, to keep watch and perceive what’s really happening before it’s totally apparent. Actually, it’s what the author of the Book of the Hebrews meant when asserting: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

So take in the news, but look beyond. Be strategically serious about what’s happening in the world, but also remember the promises of God. For God said: “…surely I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD,’ plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

Be the hope.