This morning PAYG was using Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 48: 1 - 11 (that's from the middle bit that's not in most proddy Bibles):

Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire,
   and his word burned like a torch.
 He brought a famine upon them,
   and by his zeal he made them few in number.
 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens,
   and also three times brought down fire.
 How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
   Whose glory is equal to yours?
 You raised a corpse from death
   and from Hades, by the word of the Most High.
 You sent kings down to destruction,
   and famous men, from their sickbeds.
 You heard rebuke at Sinai
   and judgements of vengeance at Horeb.
 You anointed kings to inflict retribution,
   and prophets to succeed you.
 You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,
   in a chariot with horses of fire.
 At the appointed time, it is written, you are destined
   to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,
to turn the hearts of parents to their children,
   and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
 Happy are those who saw you
   and were adorned with your love!
   For we also shall surely live.

(NRSV from Oremus Bible browser online)

An interiguing summary of the long and complex story of a very human and fallible man.  I found encouraging rather than troubling (as PAYG suggested it to be), reminding me that for all my preoccupation with my stumbles and bumbles, mess ups and 'if only' moments, for all the times I get irritable or stressed and wish I didn't, there is a much bigger story that is part of God's story and it's one that is ultimately good news.