Thankful

(This got a bit rambly...forewarned)

Joyful news! John and Peggy, the couple from MS who are visiting our church, have reported that all of their family are safe and accounted for. In addition their home has sustained only minor damage. We are thankful for the good news even though we will miss the wonderful fellowship they have brought to our fellowship as they head home tomorrow. To John and Peggy, peace be with you.

Our God is a sustaining God, ready to uphold and reinforce His children when we are weak. For that I give thanks. This past Sunday I could barely find it in me to teach Sunday School. The news of the past two weeks in LA, the issues going on within my church, the worry and fear my sister now daily lives in after she witnessed the brutal murder of one of her coworkers at her job, and the uncertain future that awaits me at my job just really overwhelmed me. As I stood there, I felt absolutely no motivation, no drive whatsoever to deliver my lesson. So I continued to stand there slack-jawed for about 20-30 seconds (felt like minutes) in front of everyone before I asked for a congregation time of prayer. After the prayer I felt somewhat encouraged so I pressed on. About 20 minutes into it I started to get the flow and excitement back.

As I lay awake last night next to my sleeping wife, trying to go to sleep but going over all these things in my mind, I felt my unborn child wriggle and leap. I laid my cheek lightly on Karlene's tummy and felt the little wiggles and kicks. I wanted to stay right there forever, in the energy of that stillness, just like that. Just then a boatload of perspective walloped me over the head. In a world full of so much anger, uncertainty, impotence and injustice, we must not neglect the overwhelming, breathtaking beauty that surrounds us. Because its that beauty that gives us hope: a little peek behind the curtain revealing the divine age to come when everything will be put to rights. It's in the little things we take for granted.

I experienced it again tonight during a game of poker (Hold 'em of course) with my brothers in law (whom I also am privledged to call my dear friends). It was during one of those make-no-sense moments when sheer goofiness just takes over and shared laughter fills the air. How wonderful are those moments and how sad that they are truly so rare.

Its also in the satisfaction you get after a day's hard work where even though you're tired and maybe even frustrated, you have that wonderful feeling that you accomplished something, you did something well.

Yes, life is hard. Sin sucks indeed. But blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. To paraphrase Phillip Yancey, "Life is hard, God is merciful, and the age to come is sure". Those three things we can take to the bank, and in the meanwhile be sure to fully indulge yourself in those fleeting but amazing foretastes of the resurrection to come.