Some of the things that baffle me are as follows:
Calculus
Whether zebras are white with black stripes or black with white stripes
People who are just plain mean or bitter
X bar theory (for all you linguists out there)
Plain bagels
Hot dogs
IU fans
Food Stamps
Another thing that baffles me is life.
Think about it.
Every morning you wake up, you anticipate the rest of your life being the same as today or relatively similar to yesterday. If you do think there's going to be a change, it's one you anticipate or one you are in control of. One of the biggest illusions we have as Americans (or as human beings) is we each think 'I am the master of my own destiny.' Well, no.
Within the last year
4 good friends of mine have been fired or laid-off from their jobs
2 have been diagnosed with progressive cancers
1 of the above died a month ago
A friend's baby was born already dead
Close friends are experience major chronic pain
Both of my parents have had surgeries and spent more than two days each in the hospital
For the first time in my life, my dad was unable to work for months
Within the last few weeks, more than three dating couples who had been together between 15 months and 3 years broke up
Friends, family friends, and family are all having issues outside their control and others are suffering life long consequences for past decisions
I don't know if it's because of my age or what, but I don't remember this much sorrow going on in the lives of those close to me before. My heart aches for these people. It baffles me that God has spared me from enduring these things.
I've been thinking about this a lot over the summer:
Why has the Lord chosen to spare me? I'm no better than these people. As a matter of fact, I deserve to be the one enduring unimaginable troubles.
But this is not his plan for me. Maybe he is breaking my heart for these loved ones that I may pray and serve them. Maybe he does have unimaginable troubles in store for me and he's called me to learn from the trials of others in preparation for my own.
Through the above people who are suffering, I see God providing in equally unimaginable ways. God's grace in action, God's love in action, people coming closer together or hearing about him for the first time. Not all suffering leads to despair.
I pray that God provide for their needs and that I learn from their experiences and can encourage them. I also pray, with a burdened heart, for those who don't know him. His heart breaks for you. Let him catch your tears and lift you up.
It will cost you your life, but it will be a life worth living.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." --- Matthew 11:28
Why has the Lord chosen to spare me? I'm no better than these people. As a matter of fact, I deserve to be the one enduring unimaginable troubles.
But this is not his plan for me. Maybe he is breaking my heart for these loved ones that I may pray and serve them. Maybe he does have unimaginable troubles in store for me and he's called me to learn from the trials of others in preparation for my own.
Through the above people who are suffering, I see God providing in equally unimaginable ways. God's grace in action, God's love in action, people coming closer together or hearing about him for the first time. Not all suffering leads to despair.
I pray that God provide for their needs and that I learn from their experiences and can encourage them. I also pray, with a burdened heart, for those who don't know him. His heart breaks for you. Let him catch your tears and lift you up.
It will cost you your life, but it will be a life worth living.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." --- Matthew 11:28
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